Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 26th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 9th Nov., 1888
I, JOHN THOMSON, of 70%, Grosvenor Street, W., in the County of Middlesex,
Photographic Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to an improved antiseptic soap suitable for laundry and general
disinfecting purposes.
In carrying my invention into effect I make use of either a cyanide or a carbolate
of mercury a very small percentage of the antiseptic salt being generally sufficient.
Any suitable method of amalgamating the cyanide with the soap mass may be
adopted.
For incorporating the carbolate with the soap mass, I adopt the following
method.
Yellow oxide of mercury, prepared by adding potash or soda to corrosive sublimate
in solution, is mixed with carbolic acid in suitable proportions, and both are then
subjected to the action of heat for the purpose of effecting their intimate intermixture
or combination, care being taken that the temperature is not so high as to tend to
the volatilization of either substance. I have found 22° C. a suitable temperature.
Caustic potash, or soda, in excess, is then added to the mixture or combination;
after it has been thoroughly incorporated therewith, the resultant alkaline soluble
compound of carbolic acid, mercury, and alkali is ready for introduction into the
soap-mass.
and
Of course, I obtain the same end if I use excess of alkali and bichloride or other
salt of mercury and carbolic acid.
I may also employ compounds of mercury with hydrocyanic acid, viz., e.g., bicyanide
of mercury, which combines with alkalies to form a soluble alkaline compound suitable
for mixing with soap.
I do not confine myself to any particular method of incorporating the said com-
pound with the soap-mass, as such methods are well-known; neither do I confine

page_text: myself to any particular proportions, as these may be varied according to the purposes
to which the soap is to be applied; but a soap intended for ordinary domestic and
laundry purposes may not require so heavy a percentage of the compound as one
intended to be used in the sickroom or the hospital.
I, JOHN THOMSON, of No. 704, Grosvenor Street, W., in the County of Middlesex,
Photographic Artist, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved antiseptic soap suitable for laundry and general
disinfecting purposes.
In carrying my invention into effect, I make use of either a cyanide or a carbolate
of mercury, a very small per centage of the antiseptic salt being generally sufficient.
Any suitable method of amalgamating the cyanide with the soap mass may be
adopted.
For incorporating the carbolate with the soap-mass I adopt the following
method.
Yellow oxide of mercury, usually prepared by adding potash or soda to corrosive
sublimate in solution, is mixed with carbolic acid in suitable proportions; and both
are then subjected to the action of heat for the purpose of effecting their intimate
intermixture or combination, care being taken that the temperature is not so high as
to tend to the volatilization of either substance.
I find by experiment that a temperature as high as 212° F. is better than one much
lower, but the temperature may be varied as may be for any minor consideration
desirable.
Caustic potash or soda in excess is then added to the mixture or combination, and
after it has been thoroughly incorporated therewith, the resultant alkaline soluble
compound of carbolic acid mercury and alkali is ready for introduction into the
soap mass.
Of course I obtain the same end if 1 use excess of alkali and bichloride or other
salt of mercury and carbolic acid.

page_text: Ι may also employ compounds of mercury with hydrocyanic acid viz., e.g. bicyanide
of mercury which combines with alkalies to form a soluble alkaline compound suitable
for mixing with soap, or an alkaline solution of oxide of mercury in alkaline
cyanides.
If it be desired to apply my invention, or any part of it, to a soap which has been
already medicated, care must be taken to ascertain that there is nothing in such previous
medication to decompose, or in any way interfere with, the chemical compounds which
I use.
I do not confine myself to any particular method of incorporating the said compounds
with the soap-mass, as such methods are well-known; neither do I confine myself to
any particular proportions, as these may be varied according to the purposes to which
the soap is to be applied; but a soap intended for ordinary domestic and laundry
purposes may not require so heavy a percentage of the compound as one intended to
be used in the sickroom or the hospital.
For instance, a soap containing any of the mercurial salts above specified in the
proportion of from 1% to 1%, although it might be useful as a curative agent in
skin diseases, would not be of any use for destroying bacterial germs. For the
latter purpose, there would be required a soap containing from 1% to 3% of the
mercurial salt.
As a practical declaration of the approximate proportions of the mercurial salt which
are necessary for achieving the aims of my invention. I give the following:
.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.