AN IMPROVED FUMIGATING MATERIAL
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Cupit Fowler, of Great Dover Street, in
the Borough of Southwark, Horticultural Chemist, for the Inven-
tion of "AN IMPROVED FUMIGATING MATERIAL."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Cupit Fowler
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 29th July 1870.
I, GEORGE CUPIT FOWLER, of Great Dover Street, in the Borough of
Southwark, Horticultural Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED FUMIGATING MATERIAL," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a novel and peculiar combination, applica-
tion, and use of chemical agents and other materials in the manufacture
of an improved fumigating material suitable for various useful purposes,
such as the destruction or prevention (by fumigation) of insects, or
blights, or mildews, the destruction of small animals, or the purification
or perfuming of air where required.

page_text: The Invention consists in thoroughly mixing and incorporating various
substances or materials which by themselves or jointly may be suitably
applied and used for fumigating purposes, all or any of such substances
whether they consist of mineral, vegetable, or animal products, and
either by themselves or jointly being those capable of being used in the
manufacture of paper or of being applied in the state of pulp. With
such substances or materials, when in the state of pulp, I thoroughly
incorporate or mix one or more of various resinous as well as other
substances or their extracts, as, for example, colophonium rosin, myrrh,
incense, gum benzoe, storax, Tolu balsam, Peru balsam, musk, camphor,
chillies, coculus indicus, tobacco, quassia, nitrate and nitrite of soda and
of potassa, sulphite and bi-sulphite of soda, peroxyde of manganese, salt,
sulphur.
The proportions of the various substances, or materials (applied in a
more or less coarse or refined state) will be by weight such as will
answer the purposes (and different qualities) for which the fumigating
materials are required to be used, and will necessarily depend upon and
will vary according to the quantity and quality of the fumigating
material to be made. For instance, in the case of sulphur, from about
ten to twenty per cent. of the weight of that substance will be mixed
with the pulp in order to constitute a uniform mixture which when
ignited will burn slowly and steadily, and will readily produce a regular
supply of sulphurous fumes where they may be required, as for example,
in ships' holds, for purifying the air, and for destroying vermin.. And
with regard to the various resinous and other substances above-named
they will be mixed and incorporated with the pulp according to its
quality in the proportions of from about five to fifteen and twenty-five
per cent. of the pulp as will effect the purposes of fumigation or the
production of a fragrant and pleasant smell in rooms and other places.
And with regard to the chemical compounds before referred to, such as
nitrite and nitrate of potassa and soda, sulphite and bi-sulphite of soda,
and the rest, they will be applied and incorporated with the pulp in
the state of thoroughly saturated aqueous solutions, the strength of the
same being arrived at according to the immutable and natural laws of
the solubility of such substances.
This Invention further consists in causing the combustion of the
fumigating material to be either slow and regular, or I apply thereto
such acids in a proper state of dilution as will have the effect of evolving

page_text: as may be found necessary for each particular case of fumigation either
nitrous vapours, or sulphurous acid or chlorine to be used as found.
suitable, the great advantage of this being that the evolution of the:
gases and vapours in the process of fumigating will be more regular and
controllable so that the fumigating material can be applied, with safety
even by persons unacquainted with the principles upon which the
evolution of such gases and vapours is based.. The incorporation where:
desirable of the sweet and fragrant smelling substances or materials is
intended to supersede the use of fumigating pastilles, and the various
modes of perfuming at present in use..
A further part of the Invention consists in adding certain substances
for the purpose of regulating the combustion of the fumigating material
in order to prevent it from blazing or burning too quickly, and this I
effect by adding certain organic acids such as tartaric, oxalic, or citric
acid together with such salts of potassa and soda and other bases as
will answer the purpose,, and in such proportions as will effect the desired
object of regulating the combustion.. The utility of these acids and
salts for duly regulating the combustion is based on the fact that the
combustion of carbonaceous matters is greatly promoted by the formation
of an ash which contains carbonate of potassa or soda to some extent,.
and the addition of the organic acids and salts to the pulp, the proportions
of which will vary from about three to about ten and twelve per cent.
of the weight of the pulp, and according to the quality and quantity of
the fumigating material and to the more or less refined state of the
pulp will have the effect of causing (during the combustion or
smouldering of the material simultaneously impregnated with the
fumigating substances) the regulation of the combustion by the formation
of an ash, which, to a greater or less extent, will contain the carbonates.
of potassa and soda, and will thereby promote the porosity of such ash
and the proper and slow. smouldering or combustion of the fumigating
material
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Cupit Fowler in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th January 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
CUPIT FOWLER, of Great Dover Street, in the Borough of Southwark,
Horticultural Chemist, send greeting.
........

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-fourth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said George Cupit Fowler, Her special licence, that
I, the said George Cupit Fowler, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said George Cupit Fowler, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein.
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,.
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED FUMIGATING
MATERIAL," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George
Cupit Fowler, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should:
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause. the same.
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months,
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Cupit Fowler, do hereby a
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement in writing, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to a novel and peculiar combination, applica-
tion, and use of chemical agents and other materials in the manufacture 2
of an improved fumigating material or paper suitable for various useful
purposes.
And in order that my said Invention may be the more fully understood
I will now proceed to describe the processes or means which I employ
in carrying out and developing my Invention, and also the ingredients a
and proportions of the same that I prefer to use in practice.
The ordinary process of manufacturing paper is the process I employ
for making my improved fumigating material or paper, and such process
being well known it is not necessary for me to give a detailed description
thereof. I may however state that I first reduce to pulp in the ordinary
manner any or all of such materials as are capable of being used in the
manufacture of paper or of being applied in the state of pulp or as may
best answer the purpose for the description of the fumigating material or

page_text: paper that I desire to produce, and for the purpose of pulping such
materials I prefer to use the pulping machine of Messieurs Bartlett and
Southby for which they obtained Letters Patent dated the thirteenth day
of March One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, No. 773. Should
this pulp contain more of water than I require I deprive the pulp of the
superfluous water or moisture either by straining it through cloth, wire
gauze, hair sieves, or by the application to it of the hydro-extractor or
centrifugal machine or other known means. To a quantity of this pulp
sufficient to produce one hundred pounds weight of paper when dry or
dry paper, I add from about five per cent. to fifty per cent. in quantity of
one or more of the following materials, that is to say, colophonium rosin,
myrrh, incense, gum benzoe, storax, Tolu balsam, Peru balsam, musk,
camphor, chillies, coculus indicus, tobacco, quassia, nitrate and nitrite
of soda and of potassa, sulphite and bi-sulphite of soda, peroxide of
manganese, salt, sulphur, and I thoroughly incorporate and mix them
together by any suitable means, or the materials may be added and in-
corporated during the pulping operation. The pulp thus prepared or
composed is made into paper cither by hand or machinery in the
ordinary way, or into pastilles, or of any other suitable form.
.
For a fumigating material or paper for the destruction or prevention
of plant insects, blights, and mildews, the following proportions will be
found to answer well, but they may be varied according to circum-
stances; they should be applied by ignition and slow combustion, and
are suitable for horticultural and floricultural purposes. Of the pulp I
take sufficient to produce one hundred pounds of dry paper or paper
when dry; also (by preference) the aqueous extract of twenty-five
pounds of tobacco, or the same finely powdered or otherwise suitably.
prepared; also (by preference) the aqueous extract of four pounds of
coculus indicus, or the same finely powdered or otherwise prepared;
also (by preference) the aqueous extract of 4 lbs. of chillies, or the same
finely powdered or otherwise prepared; also 2 lbs. of colophonium rosin
(by preference) finely powdered, or the alcoholic solution of the same, or
otherwise; also (by preference) the aqueous solution of 2 lbs. of tartaric
or citric or oxalic acid, or the same finely powdered, or otherwise, and
the aqueous solution of 1 lb. of nitrate of potassa or soda, or the same
finely powdered or otherwise prepared.
For a fumigating material or paper for disinfecting and purifying air
the proportions hereunder given will answer well, and may be applied

page_text: by moistening with dilute sulphuric acid.
One part of concentrated
acid to two parts of water which will evolve chlorine gas suitable for
the purposes of fumigation in hospitals, sick rooms, and other places
requiring the same. Of the pulp I take sufficient to produce 100 lbs.
of paper when dry or dry paper, also 6 lbs. of peroxyde of manganese
finely powdered, and 9 lbs. of salt (chloride of sodium) finely powdered
or otherwise suitably prepared.
The proportions hereunder named will answer well for a fumigating.
material or paper for disinfecting and purifying air, and even for the
bleaching of fabrics and materials. The same will be applied by
moistening with dilute sulphuric acid one part of concentrated acid to
five parts of water, which will evolve sulphurous acid gas. This material
may also be used as an antiseptic paper for packing meat, fish, and
provisions in, and will be found suitable for those purposes where,
sulphurous acid gas is required, and for the prevention of the decay and
putrefaction of animal and vegetable matter. Of the pulp I take
sufficient to produce 100 lbs. of paper when dry or dry paper, also 15 lbs.
of sulphite or bi-sulphite of soda, or any mixture of the two, which I
prefer to be finely powdered or otherwise suitably prepared; also 2 lbs.
of glycerine or 1 lb. of chloride of calcium may be added to prevent the
efflorescence of the salts.
The under-named proportions will answer well for a fumigating
material or paper for disinfecting and purifying air, and for the destruc-
tion and prevention of vermin such as cockroaches, beetles, and other
insects in various places. The material is to be applied by moistening.
with dilute sulphuric acid, one part of concentrated acid to five parts
of water, which will evolve nitrous acid and will be suitable for the
purposes of nitrous acid fumigation and the above-named purposes.
Of pulp I take sufficient to produce 100 lbs. of paper when dry or dry
paper. Also 12 lbs. of nitrate of soda or potassa (by preference) finely
powdered or otherwise prepared.
The under-mentioned proportions will answer well for a fumigating
material or paper for perfuming air to be applied by ignition and slow
combustion, and which will be suitable for perfuming air in theatres,
ball, or other public rooms, in sick rooms or other places requiring to
be perfumed. Of the pulp I take sufficient to produce 100 lbs. of
paper when dry or dry paper, also 2 lbs. of colophonium rosin (by
preference) finely powdered or otherwise suitably prepared, 2 lbs. of

page_text: myrrh, finely powdered or otherwise; 1 lb. of incense, finely powdered or
otherwise; 2 lbs. of gum bejzoe finely powdered or otherwise; ½ lb. of
storax; lb. of Tolu balsam; of Peru balsam; oz. of musk, (by
preference) finely powdered, or alcoholic tincture of the same or
otherwise suitably prepared; 1 lb. of tartaric acid or citric acid or
nitrate of soda or potassa (by preference) finely powdered or otherwise
suitably prepared.
The under-mentioned proportions will answer well for a fumigating
material, or paper for disinfecting and purifying or for the destruction
and prevention of insects, such as cockroaches, beetles, bugs, and other
vermin, and the sulphuring of bottles, jars, casks, and other vessels, to
be applied by ignition and slow combustion. Of the pulp I take suffi-
cient to produce one hundred pounds of paper when dry or dry paper,
also twenty pounds of sulphur by preference finely powdered, and one
pound of nitrate of potassa or soda also finely powdered or otherwise
suitably prepared.
The under-named proportions will answer well for a fumigating material
or paper for the production of vapors of sulphur, not sulphurous acid,
in greenhouses and other similar places for the destruction and prevention
of insects, blights, and mildews. To be applied by being placed on the
flues or hot water pipes or other convenient places, and is suitable for
horticultural and floricultural purposes. Of the pulp I take sufficient
to produce one hundred pounds of paper when dry, or dry paper, and
I add thereto thirty pounds of sulphur (by preference) finely powdered
or otherwise.
The under-named proportions will answer well for a fumigating
material or paper for the destruction, prevention, and the keeping of
places free from.insects, such as mosquitos, gnats, flies, cockroaches, and
other insects, to be applied by ignition and slow combustion. It may
also be used as a paper for wrapping up furs, woollen cloths, and such
like materials. It may be placed in drawers, chests, wardrobes, or other
places for the prevention of moths. Of the pulp I take sufficient to
produce one hundred pounds of paper when dry, or dry paper; also ten
pounds of camphor (by preference) finely powdered or the alcoholic
solution of the same, and five pounds of colophonium rosin finely
powdered or otherwise prepared.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
object of my said Invention, and the means, methods, or processes I

page_text: prefer to adopt in carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to
be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
means, methods, or processes herein-before described, nor to the precise
proportions or conditions herein-named of the ingredients or materials
I employ in manufacturing my improved fumigating materials or papers,
as it will be evident to the practical chemist that many variations may
and will have to be made therein in order to suit the precise quantity
and quality of the fumigating materials or papers required and the
particular purpose for which it may be intended; but I would here state
in conclusion that what I claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the manufacture, pre-
paration, composition, and use of an improved fumigating material or
paper for the purposes herein set forth, composed or prepared substantially
as herein-before described or any modification or variation thereof or
therein.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Cupit Fowler, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Solicitor and Patent Agent,
1, Serle Street,
Lincoln's Inn.
GEO: CUPIT FOWLER. (L.S.)