IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF COTTON FOR USE AS AN ABSORBENT
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Robinson Buck, of Dalston, in the County of
Cumberland, Manufacturer, Fergus Pattinson, of the City of Carlisle, and
Joseph Pattinson Buck, of Dalston, aforesaid, Cotton Spinner, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF COTTON FOR USE AS AN ABSORBENT."
Sealed the 1st September 1870, and dated the 5th July 187
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Robinson Buck, Fergus
Pattinson, and Joseph Pattinson Buck at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 5th July 1876.
ROBERT ROBINSON BUCK, of Dalston, in the County of Cumberland, Manufacturer,
FERGUS PATTINSON, of the City of Carlisle, and JOSEPH PATTINSON BUCK, of Dalston,
aforesaid, Cotton Spinner. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF COTTON FOR
USE AS AN ABSORBENT."
"
This Invention consists in the preparation of cotton for use as an absorbent, and
particularly for use in the case of wounds and operations of the person when it is
desired either to absorb blood or matter exuding or discharging from the wound.
Cotton which has not been prepared according to our Invention is inapplicable
for these purposes, as being, in the first place, not a good absorbent, and, in the
second place, when saturated with blood or discharge, portions of the fibre remain
on the surface of the wound or cicatrice and cause irritation and inconvenience.
To obviate these objections we first select cotton by preference of a superior
quality, which after having been carefully opened from the bale so as to preserve
the staple, may then, if necessary, be bleached and cleansed from the impurities
which are frequently mixed with it. The cotton by preference, either thus, treated
or in a crude or semi-purified or cleansed condition, is then submitted either to
the action of diluted acids, such, for example, as diluted sulphuric acid, or to the
action of such substances or compounds as may be capable either at the ordinary or
at an elevated temperature of converting the cotton fibre into what we have
called an absorbent, such, for example, as borax or phosphate of soda; there are
several substances or compounds which have this effect, but we have given these as
types. The cotton after such or similar treatment is then submitted to the action
of water, so as thoroughly to free it from the substances or compounds employed
in its conversion, and is then dried by preference in the open air, after which it is
opened and carded on engines suitable for the staple of cotton.
[Price 2d.1

page_text: Instead of employing cotton as before mentioned, it will be understood that the
cotton may be treated after it has been woven or in or during any process of
manufacture. The result is that the cotton so prepared is specially applicable as an
absorbent for liquids, and extremely useful in the case of wounds and surgical
operations of all kinds.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Robinson Buck, Fergus Pattinson, and Joseph Pattinson Buck
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd January 1877.
ROBERT ROBINSON BUCK, of Dalston, in the County of Cumberland, Manufacturer,
FERGUS PATTINSON, of the City of Carlisle, and JOSEPH PATTINSON BUCK, of Dalston,
aforesaid, Cotton Spinner. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF COTTON FOR
USE AS AN ABSORBENT.'
"
This Invention consists in the preparation of cotton for use as an absorbent, and
particularly for use in the case of wounds and operations of the person when it is
desired either to absorb blood or matter exuding or discharging from the wound.
Cotton which has not been prepared according to our Invention is inapplicable for
these purposes, as being, in the first place, not a good absorbent, and in the second place,
when saturated with blood or discharge portions of the fibre remain on the surface
of the wound or cicatrice and cause irritation and inconvenience. To obviate these
objections we first select cotton by preference of a superior quality, which after
having been carefully opened from the bale, so as to preserve tlie staple, may then,
if necessary, be bleached and cleansed from the impurities which are frequently
mixed with it. The cotton by preference, either thus treated or in a crude or
semi-purified or cleansed condition is then submitted either to the action of a
diluted acid, such, for example, as diluted sulphuric acid, or to the action of an
acid or acids, which at the ordinary or at an elevated temperature are capable of
converting cotton fibre into the desired condition. The cotton after such treatment
is then submitted to the action of water so as thoroughly to free it from the acids
or compounds employed in its conversion, and it is then dried, and by preference in
the open air, after which it is opened and carded on engines suitable for the staple
of cotton.
Instead of employing cotton as before mentioned, it will be understood that the
cotton may be treated after it has been woven, or in or during any process of
manufacture; the result of such treatment being that the cotton so prepared is
specially applicable for surgical purposes.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, we would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is, the preparation of cotton either in a crude, purified,
or in a woven or manufactured condition by the action of an acid or acids, so as to
render it more suitable for surgical purposes.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Robinson Buck and Joseph Pattinson
Buck, on behalf of Fergus Pattinson and ourselves, have. to this our Specifica-
tion set our hands and seals, this First day of January One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
ROBERT ROBINSON BUCK. (L.S.)
JOSEPH PATTINSON BUCK. (L.S.)