IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF RABBIT, HARE, AND OTHER SKINS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF RABBIT, HARE, AND OTHER SKINS."-A com-
munication from abroad by Jean Leopold Roessler, Merchant, of Paris,
in the Empire of France.
Sealed the 1st May 1868, and dated the 26th November 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th November 1867.
1, 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 TREATMENT OF RABBIT, HARE, AND OTHER SKINS," a com-
munication to me from abroad by Jean Leopold Roessler, Merchant, of Paris,
in the Empire of France :-
This Invention relates to the treatment of rabbit, bare, and other skins, the
fur of which is required to be utilized, and consists in substituting for the
preparation of mercury hitherto employed in the process known as "carrotting"

page_text: of any hydrocarbonated or other substance capable of decomposing nitric acid
into nitrous acid. By this means the process is rendered much less noxious
to health and more economical.
The process of "carrotting" according to this Invention may be effected in
two different ways according to the quality of the skins operated upon and the
strength of "carrot" to be obtained.
According to one mode of treatment the hydrocarbonated substance and
the nitric acid are applied to the skins separately, whereas by the second
method a mixture of the two is brushed on to the skins; the skins are then
dried in an oven with a closed or an open fire according as a white or
yellow "carrot " is required. The proportion of hydrocarbonated substance
and nitric acid vary according to the strength and colour of the "carrot "
required.
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 26th May 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 Twenty-sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, 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, or assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Henry Johnson, my executors, 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 TREATMENT OF RABBIT, HARE, AND OTHER SKINS," a communication from
abroad by Jean Leopold Roessler, Merchant, of Paris, in the Empire of France,
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,

page_text: and in what manner the same was to be performed, 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 said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:
The said Invention relates to the treatment of rabbit, hare, and other skins,
the fur of which is required to be utilized, and consists in substituting for
the preparation of mercury hitherto employed in the process known as
"carrotting" of any hydrocarbonated or other substance capable of decomposing
nitric acid into nitrous acid. As examples of those hydrocarbonated substances
from which good results have been obtained I may mention raw or refined
sugar, gum, and starch. By this means the process is rendered much less
noxious to health and more economical.
The process of "carrotting" according to this Invention may be effected
in two different ways according to the quality of the skins operated upon and
the strength of "carrot" to be obtained.
According to one mode of treatment the hydrocarbonated substance such
as raw or refined sugar; gum or starch and the nitric acid are applied to the
skins separately, whereas by the second method a mixture of the two is
brushed on to the skins; the skins are then dried in an oven with a closed
or an open fire according as a white or yellow "carrot" is required. I may
here observe that skins treated according to this Invention do not require to
be dried at so elevated a temperature as those treated with mercury in the
usual way. The proportion of the hydrocarbonated substance and nitric acid
vary according to the strength and color of the "carrot" required. For
example equal parts of nitric acid and hydrocarbonated substance may be
used or the mixture may be varied in the following proportions:-th to
of hydrocarbonated substance and 1,000 parts of water mixed with from ths
to ths of nitric acid, and 1,000 parts of water.
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 application and use to and in the treatment or preparation of furs of
hydrocarbonated or other substances capable of decomposing nitric acid into

page_text: Ditrous acid, in substitution for mercury 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-fifth day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.s.)