IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GELATINE
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GELATINE."-A communi-
cation from abroad by François Coignet, of Paris, in the Empire of
France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th April 1868.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GELATINE," a
communication to me from abroad by François Coignet, of Paris, in the
Empire of France, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the dissolving of the bones in the manu-
facture of gelatine.

page_text: Hitherto muriatic acid has been the only acid employed for this
purpose, but as it always leaves a quantity of chloride of calcium in
the gelatinous cells of the bones which is found to be very objectionable
it is proposed according to this Invention to substitute for the muriatic
acid sulphurous acid, which has the property of dissolving effectually
the calcareous salts or saline particles of the bones.
In carrying out this Invention the bones are subjected to successive
baths of sulphurous acid until they are thoroughly softened, or they may
be placed in water through which is passed a current of sulphurous acid
gas.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of April, in the year
of our Lord Qne thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my exccutors, administrators, or 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
* IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GELATINE," a communication from
abroad by Francois Coignet, of Paris, in the Empire of Francé, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per..

page_text: formed, 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
sald Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do
hereby 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, that is to say :-
The said Invention consists in the employment of sulphurous acid
for dissolving the bones in the process of manufacturing gelatine, such
acid possessing the property of completely dissolving the salts of the
bones, and consequently the inconvenience of a quantity of chloride
of calcium being left in the gelatinous cells of the bones, as is the case
in the old process wherein muriatic acid is employed, is obviated.
In carrying out this Invention the bones are subjected to successive
baths of sulphurous acid until they are thoroughly softened, or they
may be immersed in water through which is passed a current of
sulphurous acid gas, which latter method of treatment is preferred.
In either case the dissolving of the bones is effected with great
facility.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the
dissolving of the saline portions of bones with a view to the manufacture
of gelatine therefrom by the action of sulphurous acid, substantially as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to
this my Specification set my hand and seal, the Twenty-eighth
day of October, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
J. HENRY JOHNSON (L.S.)