IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS FOR PRESERVING BUTTER AND OTHER ORGANIC SUBSTANCES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gustav Bischof, of No. 4, Hart Street, Bloomsbury, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS
FOR PRESERVING BUTTER AND OTHER ORGANIC SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 28th November 1879, and dated the 10th June
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gustav Bischof at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th June 1879.
GUSTAV BISCHOF, of No. 4, Hart Street, Bloomsbury, in the County of Middle-
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS FOR PRESERVING BUTTER AND OTHER ORGANIC
sex.
SUBSTANCES."
In carrying out my Invention I place the butter or other organic substance to be
preserved into casks or other vessels to be used for storage, interspersing it with
layers of spongy (metallic) iron. The interstices left between the particles of spongy
iron and otherwise should be filled as completely as possible with water.
The following examples will explain how I proceed in preserving organic sub-
stances under varying conditions in the manner indicated. If butter or similar
matter has to be preserved its appearance would be impaired by direct contact with
the spongy iron. To prevent this I wrap the butter or other similar matter in
convenient parcels in calico or other fabric or porous material, allowing the action
of the spongy iron to take place without actual contact. These parcels are inado
to form layers intermixed with the spongy iron in casks or other vessels. Or the
butter or similar matter may be stamped into firkins or jars of convenient size,
being covered on the top with calico or similar pervious material. In this instance
the firkins or jars are intermixed with spongy iron in the casks or otherwise. After
filling in either case the casks or other vessels with water they may be covered by
a watertight lid if they are intended to be transported; if not, any ordinary lid,
which need not be watertight, will suffice. If eggs or similar matters liable to
breakage have to be preserved I place them into trays, which fit into the casks or
other vessels one above the other, intermixing the eggs with fine spongy iron.
Water is filled in, and the casks may be covered as before.
Other organic substances, such as potatoes, may be intermixed without any
special arrangement to avoid contact or to prevent leakage.
The butter or other organic substance to be preserved ought obviously to be in
as fresh a condition as possible when being placed into the casks or other vessels
for preservation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Gustav Bischof in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd December
1879.
GUSTAV BISCHOF, of No. 4, Hart Street, Bloomsbury, in the County of Middle-
sex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS FOR PRESERVING BUTTER AND OTHER ORGANIC
SUBSTANCES."
In carrying out my Invention I place the butter or other organic substance to
be preserved into casks or other vessels to be used for storage, interspersing it with
layers of spongy (metallic) iron. The interstices left between the particles of
spongy iron and otherwise should be filled as completely as possible with water.
The following examples will explain how I proceed in preserving organic sub-
stances under varying conditions.
If butter or similar matter has to be preserved its appearance would be impaired
by direct contact with the spongy iron. To prevent this I wrap the butter or
other similar matter in convenient parcels in calico or other fabric or porous
material, allowing of the action of the spongy iron and water to take place without
actual contact. These parcels are made to form layers, intermixed with the spongy
iron and water in casks or other vessels. Or the butter or similar matter may be
stamped into firkins or jars of convenient size, being covered on the top with calico
or similar pervious material.
The firkins or jars are then intermixed with spongy iron and water in casks or
otherwise.
The latter method may be modified as follows:-The firkins or jars are filled
tightly with butter to within about three or four inches from their top. Into the
space thus remaining I place the spongy iron and water, preventing contact of the
former with the butter by placing calico or similar pervious material between
the two.
The casks or other vessels may in either case be covered by a watertight lid if
intended to be transported; if not, any ordinary lid, which need not be watertight,
will suffice. The lid should however prevent too rapid au evaporation of the
water.
If eggs or similar articles liable to breakage have to be preserved I place them
into trays with perforated bottoms, which fit into casks or other vessels one above
the other, intermixing the eggs with fine spongy iron and water.
The casks may be covered as before.
Other organic substances that would not deteriorate by direct contact with
spongy iron and water may be intermixed therewith without special arrangements
to prevent contact or breakage.
Since filing my Provisional Specification, in which I mentioned potatoes as being
subjected to the action of spongy iron, I have found that these and other similar
vegetable matters are not preserved by such action, and I therefore do not claim
the treatment of such vegetable matters.
The butter or other organic substance to be preserved ought obviously to be in
as fresh and pure a condition as possible when being placed into the casks or other
vessels for preservation.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I make no general claim
to the discovery of the antiseptic or other preservative properties of spongy iron in
the presence of water, but I claim,―
Preserving butter and other organic substances by covering them with spongy

page_text: iron in the presence of water in such manner that no air can come in contact with
the said substance except that which has passed through and been acted upon by
the spongy iron, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gustav Bischof, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
GUSTAV BISCHOF. (LS.)