New or Improved Material to be Used as a Disinfectant, Manure, Preservative against Decay, and for other Purposes such as Litter for Stables and Farmyards, Packing for Fragile Objects, and as a Filtering and Decolorizing Material.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 12th Jan., 1888.
Complete Accepted, 17th Feb., 1888
New or Improved Material to be Used as a Disinfectant, Manure,
Preservative against Decay, and for other Purposes such as
Litter for Stables and Farmyards, Packing for Fragile Objects,
and as a Filtering and Decolorizing Material.
A communication to me from abroad by JEAN JEGER, of Varsovie, Poland,
ד
I EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and Engineers,
of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention consists substantially of a vegetable powder prepared from mosses
of the botanic family Bryineae and especially the species Hypnum, and Bryina, prepared
in the manner hereinafter described."
The material may be used for different purposes, such as the disinfection of water
closets, cesspools and sewage; manure for agricultural purposes; the prevention of
phylloxera; the prevention of damp in walls; the preservation of timber; litter for
stables and farmyards; packing for fragile objects; and as a filtering and decolorizing
material instead of charcoal..
Where the material is to be used for disinfecting animal excreta or sewage matter
the powder is added in the proportion of about one tenth part of the weight of such
matters, the effensive odour of which it completely absorbs, forming an invaluable

page_text: disinfecting agent since in a very short time it transforms the organic matter of the
excreta into inorganic salts and substances perfectly uninjurious to health.
The material forms a certain means for the destruction of the germs of contageous
maladies, such as typhoid, cholera, or diphtheria, especially if when cholera for
instance is epidemic, the weight is increased to a sixth part of that of the excreta.
From the great facility with which the vegetable powder absorbs gases and liquids
(up to as much as twelve times its own weight), when applied to the disinfection of
sewage matters it completely remedies the filtration and absorption of infected liquids
through the ground, which frequently cause the poisoning of springs, wells, and other
subterraneous water supplies. As no injurious gas escapes from water or other closets
disinfected with the powder, it contributes greatly to the purity of the air in houses
where it is used. There being therefore no vitiation of the water or air great improve-
ment is effected in the hygienic condition and health of towns where the sewage is
treated with the vegetable powder.
It is well established that the emanations from water and other closets originate
and spread all infectious maladies, but by the use of the new material, there is no gas
or smell, and no dissemination of such maladies.
The use of the vegetable powder is also most effective in manures containing
sewage matters, which matters are at present wasted and poison the rivers into which
they flow.
Sewage matters treated with the vegetable powder undergo in a comparatively
short time, eight to twelve days, a complete change into inorganic salts soluble in
water, and carthy matters.
The product of the reaction forms a homogeneous mass nearly dry and absolutely
without smell, resembling earth, which may be removed from cesspools without any
prejudice to health. It forms a most active manure, for it contains in the form of
carbonate of ammonia all the nitrogen contained in the solid and liquid excreta, as
well as the potash and phosphoric acid. It is a marked characteristic that the
nitrogen of foecal matters exposed to the action of the powder does not undergo any
change into acid or nitric salts, but always into ammonia which in combination with
carbonic acid produced in abundance by the tissues of the vegetable powder finally
takes the form of carbonate of ammonia.
By analysis, the manure obtained from human excreta treated in cesspools or closets
with the vegetable powder shows 2:38 to 2.66 % of nitrogen and 0-96 to 1.15% of
phosphoric acid in the condition of soluble salts readily diffusible therefore, through
the membranes of roots of plants. This manure is therefore 6 times as active as
farmyard manure. Its use in the culture of the vine is invaluable to prevent the
development of phylloxera in the same way as the vegetable powder added to excreta
destroys the germs of cholera and other infectious diseases.
The vegetable powder is prepared as already explained from mosses belonging to
the family of Bryineae and especially the species Hypnum and Bryina. These
mosses are found in layers of considerable thickness (four to six metres) upon the
banks of rivers. They have lost their vital faculty of reproduction but the tissues
have perfectly retained their vegetable structure and the membranes which separate
the cells of the stalks and leaves are not broken and consequently retain the faculty
of diffusion and of endosmose of gases and liquids, thus accounting for their enormous
capacity for absorption. Under the action of the sun, air, and moisture, they change
to vegetable soil and can never be used as fuel.
These mosses never either undergo a transformation into peat, a property which
contributes largely to the excellence of the manure obtained by the disinfection of
sewage matters, by means of the vegetable powder described.
The layers of the raw material are removed and it is then treated by simple exposure
and drying in the air, after which it is reduced by suitable machinery to the form of
a more or less fine powder.
In order to stimulate and increase the intensity and efficacy of the action of this
powder, it is advisable to add 2 to 5% of quicklime which neutralizes the excess of
acids in the excreta, without which the disinfection is not so perfect and more

page_text: time is required for the complete transformation of the foecal matters, into inorganic
salts.
The vegetable powder prepared as described may be used as a covering for walls
or timber to prevent dampness and decay and to guard them from cold. It also forms
an admirable substitute for straw, as litter in stables or farmyards, and also from
its cheapness and cleanliness for the package of fragile objects such as glass or
porcelain.
It may also be used to decolorize different liquids such as vegetable oils petroleum
and the like, as a substitute for animal or other charcoal, with which it is equally
efficaceous but very much cheaper.

page_text: New or Improved Material to be Used as a Disinfectant, Manure,
Preservative against Decay, and for other Purposes such as
Litter for Stables and Farmyards, Packing for Fragile Objects,
and as a Filtering and Decolorizing Material.
A communication to me from abroad by JEAN JEGER, of Varsovie, Poland,
Engineer
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and Engineers,
of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement (that
is to say) :-
This invention consists substantially of a vegetable powder prepared from mosses
of the botanic family Bryineae and especially the species Hypnum, and Bryina, prepared
in the manner hereinafter described."
The material may be used for different purposes, such as the disinfection of water
closets, cesspools, and sewage; manure for agricultural purposes; the prevention of
phylloxera, the prevention of damp in walls; the preservation of timber; litter for
stables and farmyards, packing for fragile objects; and as a filtering and decolorizing
material instead of charcoal.
Where the material is to be used for disinfecting animal excreta or sewage matter
the powder is added in the proportion of about one tenth part of the weight of such
matters, the offensive odour of which it completely absorbs, forming an invaluable
disinfecting agent, since in a very short time it transforms the organic matter of the
excreta into inorganic salts and substances perfectly uninjurious to health. The
material forms a certain means for the destruction of the germs of contagious
maladies, such as typhoid, cholera, or diphtheria, especially if when cholera for instance
is epidemic, the weight is increased to a sixth part of that of the excreta.
From the great facility with which the vegetable powder absorbs gases and liquids
(up to as much as twelve times its own weight), when applied to the disinfection of
sewage matters it completely remedies the filtration and absorption of infected liquids
through the ground, which frequently cause the poisoning of springs, wells, and other
subterraneous water supplies. As no injurious gas escapes from water or other closets
disinfected with the powder it contributes greatly to the purity of the air in houses
where it is used.
There being therefore no vitiation of the water or air great improvement is effected
in the hygienic condition and health of towns where the sewage is treated with the
vegetable powder.

page_text: It is well established that the emanations from water and other closets originate and
spread all infectious maladies, but by the use of the new material, there is no gas or
smell, and no dissemination of such maladies.
The use of the vegetable powder is also most effective in manures containing sewage
matters, which matters are at present wasted and poison the rivers into which they
flow.
Sewage matters treated with the vegetable powder undergo in a comparatively
short time, eight to twelve days, a complete change into inorganic salts soluble in
water, and earthy matters.
The product of the reaction forms a homogeneous mass nearly dry and absolutely
without smell, resembling earth, which may be removed from cesspools without any
prejudice to health. It forms a most active manure, for it contains in the form of
carbonate of ammonia all the nitrogen contained in the solid and liquid excreta, as
well as the potash and phosphoric acid. It is a marked characteristic that the nitrogen
of foecal matters exposed to the action of the powder does not undergo any change
into acid or nitric salts, but always into ammonia, which in combination with carbonic
acid produced in abundance by the tissues of the vegetable powder finally takes the
form of carbonate of ammonia.
By analysis, the manure obtained from human excreta treated in cesspools or closets
with the vegetable powder shews 2.38 to 2.66% of nitrogen and 0.96 to 1-15% of
phosphoric acid in the condition of soluble salts readily diffusible therefore, through
the membranes of roots of plants. This manure is therefore six times as active as
farmyard manure. Its use in the culture of the vine is invaluable to prevent the
development of phylloxera in the same way as the vegetable powder added to excreta
destroys the germs of cholera and other infectious diseases.
The vegetable powder is prepared as already explained from mosses belonging to
the family of Bryineae and especially the species Hypnum and Bryina. These mosses
are found in layers of considerable thickness (four to six metres) upon the banks of
rivers in many places. They have lost their vital faculty of reproduction but the
tissues have perfectly retained their vegetable structure and the membranes which
separate the cells of the stalks and leaves are not broken and consequently retain the
faculty of diffusion and of endosmose of gases and liquids, thus accounting for their
enormous capacity for absorption. Under the action of the sun, air, and moisture,
they change to vegetable soil and can never be used as fuel.
These mosses never either undergo a transformation into peat, a property which
contributes largely to the excellence of the manure obtained by the disinfection of
sewage matters, by means of the vegetable powder described.
The layers of the raw material are removed and it is then treated by simple exposure
and drying in the air, after which it is reduced by suitable machinery to the
form of a more or less fine powder. In order to stimulate and increase the intensity
and efficacy of the action of this powder when it is used as a disinfectant or manure,
it is advisable to add 2 to 5% of quicklime, which neutralizes the excess of acids in
the excreta, without which the disinfection is not so perfect and more time is required
for the complete transformation of the foecal matters, into inorganic salts.
The vegetable material prepared as described may be used as a covering for walls
or timber to prevent dampness and decay and to guard them from cold.
It also forms an admirable substitute for straw, as litter in stables or farmyards, and
also from its cheapness and cleanliness for the package of fragile objects such as glass
or porcelain.
It may also be used to decolorize different liquids such as vegetable oils petroleum
and the like, as a substitute for animal or other charcoal, with which it is equally
efficaceous but very much cheaper.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The method of preparing a vegetable powder from mosses of the botanic family

page_text: of Bryineae, by drying them in the air, pulverizing them, and mixing them with quick
lime, substantially as described.
2. The application of the powder so prepared to the disinfection of waterclosets and
sewage.
3. The application of the powder prepared as described to the purpose of manure,
substantially as described.
4. The application of manure prepared by the treatment of sewage matters with the
powder prepared as described, to the prevention of phylloxera in vines, substantially
as described.
.
5. The use of the powder prepared as described to the prevention of damp in walls,
substantially as described.
6. The use of the powder prepared as described as a non-conductor of heat in wooden
structures, substantially as described.
7. The use of the powder, prepared as described, as a preservative of timber, sub-
stantially as described.
8. The use of the material prepared as described as litter in stables and farmyards,
substantially as described.
9. The use of the material, prepared as described, as a substitute for straw in packing,
substantially as described.
10. The use of the powder prepared as described, as a filtering and decolorizing
material, substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of January 1888.
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Inventor.