A New and Improved Disinfecting and Antiseptic Block.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Disinfecting and Antiseptic Block.
We, JAMES LAING MORTIMER and JOHN HUBERT WILLIAMS, both of 45A, Dale
Street, Liverpool, Drysalters, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
A combination or mixture of permanganate of potash or permanganate of soda
with naphthaline, camphor & naphthaline, camphor or soap & the object is to sur-
round each crystal or particle of the soda or potash with a material that is slightly
soluble in water or of a volatile nature, so that as the material evaporates or is
dissolved, the potash or soda will become exposed & subjected to the action of
any liquid passing over it disinfecting same automatically.
In forming the blocks we heat the permanganate of potash or soda with the
naphthaline, or camphor & naphthaline or camphor to 300° Fahr. and thoroughly
mix them, this mixture is then transferred to moulds of the size & shape required,
the materials may be used in any proportions but we find a suitable proportion
for general purposes to be 75 parts of the potash or soda to 25 parts of any of the
other ingredients.
In making the soap combination we mix the potash or soda with soap when the
latter is in a liquid state, or if we use a milled soap when in a powder & mould to
the required size & shape.
.
The blocks may be made any size or shape to suit the particular trap, drain,
sink, flush pipe, chamber or cistern, for which they may be required.
We claim that this method of using permanganate of potash or permanganate of
soda is much more economical than using them alone in the form of crystals
or powder; a sufficient quantity is given off only when the drain or flush is used.
After first fixing in position a continuous & regular supply of a disinfectant
& antiseptic will be ensured for a considerable time without further attention.
Dated Fifteenth day of March 1897.
We, JAMES LAING MORTIMER and JOHN HUBERT WILLIAMS, of 45A, Dale
Street, Liverpool, Manufacturing Chemist and Drysalters, 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:―
A combination or mixture of permanganate of potash or permanganate of soda

page_text: with naphthaline, camphor and naphthaline, camphor or soap and the object is to
surround each crystal or particle of the permanganate of potash or permanganate
of soda with a material that is slightly soluble in water or of a volatile nature, so
that as the material evaporates or is dissolved, the permanganate of potash or per-
manganate of soda will become exposed and subjected to the action of any liquid
passing over it disinfecting same automatically.
In forming the blocks we heat the permanganate of potash or permanganate of
soda with the naphthaline, or camphor and naphthaline or camphor to 300° Fahrt.
and thoroughly mix them this mixture is then transferred to moulds of the size
and shape required the materials may be used in any proportions but we find a
suitable proportion for general purposes to be 75 per cent. or parts of the perman-
ganate of potash or permanganate of soda to 25 per cent. of any of the other
ingredients.
In making the soap combination we mix the permanganate of potash or perman-
ganate of soda with soap when the latter is in a liquid state or if we use a milled
soap when in a powdered state and mould to the required size & shape.
The blocks may be made any size or shape to suit the particular trap, drain,
sink, flush pipe, chamber or cistern for which they may be required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is: :-
(1) As a new article of manufacture a block consisting of granules of perman-
ganate of potash or permanganate of soda surrounded by and embedded in a material
capable of being slowly dissipated when the whole is placed in water substantially
as described.
(2) As a new article of manufacture a block formed of a mixture of granules of
permanganate of potash or permanganate of soda and a disinfectant only slightly
soluble in water.
(3) As a new article of manufacture a disinfecting block formed of granules of
permanganate of potash or permanganate of soda and an amorphous material only
slightly soluble in water the one being substantially evenly disseminated in the
other.
(4) The method of using permanganate of potash or permanganate of soda as a
disinfectant which consists in mixing it with an adhesive material only slightly
soluble in water moulding it into blocks and suspending these blocks in the water
or other fluid to be disinfected substantially as described.
Dated 15th December 1897
JAMES LAING MORTIMER.
JOHN HUBERT WILLIAMS.