A NEW OR IMPROVED TREATMENT OF WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS, OR OF FABRICS MADE THEREFROM, FOR THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Kesseler, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the
Empire of Germany, Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor, for an Invention
of "A NEW OR IMPROVED TREATMENT OF WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS, OR OF FABRICS MADE THEREFROM, FOR THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES."
A communication from Albert. Werner, of Frankenberg (Saxony), in the
German Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Kesseler at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th August 1880.
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "A NEW OR IMPROVED TREATMENT OF
WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS, OR OF FABRICS MADE THEREFROM, FOR
THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES." A communication from Albert Werner, of Frankenberg
(Saxony), in the German Empire.
This Invention relates to a process for impregnating wool. or other fibrous
materials, or the fabrics made from the same, with sulphur in a state of fine
distribution, in order to use such material in the shape of garments, bandages, &c.,
as a substitute for sulphur baths or ointments.
For this purpose the material, preferably pure (that is to say, unmixed), animal
wool or woollen fabric after all fatty or oily matter or dressing (in the case of woven
fabrics) has been removed, is placed in tepid water, so as to saturate the material
with water, which is subsequently pressed out, but without drying the material.
The wet material is then passed into a bath of cold water and sulphuric acid, the
concentration of which is about 2 degrees Beaumé, or 1 litre of water to about
35 grammes of anhydrous sulphuric acid, and left in this bath from three to four
hours, after which it is passed through cold water and pressed out.
After this operation the material is placed in a bath consisting of a solution of
sodic thiosulphate in cold water, in the proportion of about 16 to 18 grammes of

page_text: the former to one litre of the latter, and left in this bath from three to four hours.
Finally, the material is taken out, slightly rinsed with cold water and left to dry
completely, for which purpose it may be stretched out, after which it is ready for
use. The vessels for carrying out this process should be made of a chemically
indifferent substance, and the material completely immersed in the various baths.
The described process may be modified by uniting the ingredients named
(sulphuric acid and sodic thiosulphate) in the same bath, heating the latter to from
60 to 75 degrees centigrade, leaving the well cleaned woollen fabric in the bath for
about two hours, and stirring it during that time, after which it is taken out, rinsed
and dried.
In both cases the concentration of the baths may be varied according to the
special purposes for which the product is intended.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Carl Kesseler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th January
1881.
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohren Strasse, Berlin, W., in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "A NEW OR IMPROVED TREATMENT OF
WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS, OR OF FABRICS MADE THEREFROM, FOR
THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES." A communication from Albert Werner, of Frankenberg
(Saxony), in the German Empire.
Sulphur plays an important part in therapeutics, its application being chiefly
external by treating the skin with sulphur baths or ointments. The first method
acts only a short time, that is to say, as long as the bath continues, while the
second method, namely, the application of ointments, is very troublesome and also
more or less unclean. Sulphur would act better if it could be brought in contact
with the skin in a fine state of distribution, and left there during a long space of
time, while the skin is in a slight state of irritation which keeps the pores open,
thereby causing a continued absorption of sulphur. This improved mode of
application is attained by specially prepared woollen fabrics herein described, which
contain sulphur as a finely distributed precipitate. These woollen fabrics applied
either as underclothing or as covers for wrapping in the patient, or as bandages in
case of local diseases, constitute a new remedy for treating a series of diseases, which
need not be specially enumerated. The best material for the purpose described are
woollen fabrics having one side quite plain (not napped or raised at all, if possible),
while the other side is strongly napped or raised, so as to present a large number
of woollen fibres, to which the product of the chemical process adheres in the shape
of a therapeutically active precipitate. I do not however confine myself to this
sort of fabrics, whether they be woven or knitted, but I propose to apply the
treatment described to any suitable fabric, irrespective of its mechanical structure,
and whether it be of animal, or of vegetable, or of mixed origin. Wool has only
been mentioned as an example for explaining the process, which is as follows:-
1. The material, preferably pure (that is to say unmixed) animal wool or woollen
fabric, after all fatty or oily matter or size (in the case of woven fabrics) has been
removed, is placed in tepid water so as to saturate the material with water, which
is subsequently pressed out, but without drying the material. 2. The wet material
is then passed into a bath of cold water and sulphuric acid, the concentration of
which is about 2 degrees Beaumé, or 1 litre of water to about 35 grammes of
anhydrous sulphuric acid, and left in this bath from three to four hours. 3. After
this the material is taken out of the bath, passed through cold water, and pressed
out moderately. 4. The material is then placed in a bath consisting of a solution
of sodic thiosulphate in cold water, in the proportion of about 16 to 18 grammes of
the former to one litre of the latter, and left in this bath from three to four hours.
5. Finally, the material is taken out, slightly rinsed with cold water, and left to
dry completely by stretching it out horizontally when possible, after which it is
ready for use. The vessels for carrying out this process should be made of a
chemically very indifferent substance, for instance, wood, and the materials should
be completely immersed in the various baths, which may easily be attained by
means of wooden rods. The above described process may be modified and shortened
as follows, although I prefer the treatment just described:-This modification
consists in uniting the chemicals named, viz., sulphuric acid and sodic thiosulphate,
simultaneously with water in the same proportion as above described, to form a
bath, which is then heated to 60-75° centigrade, and leaving the well cleaned
woollen fabric in this bath for about 2 hours, while frequently stirring, after which
the fabric is taken out, rinsed and dried, thereby making it ready for use. By

page_text: increasing the quantity of the said chemicals in the bath, the precipitate of sulphur
in the woollen fabric is in both methods increased, while, on the other hand, weaker
baths produce weaker precipitates. I do not, therefore, bind myself to the exact
prescription herein before stated, but propose to alter the strength of the precipitate
to suit the various purposes which physicians may have in view. Finally, I would
remark that clothes, covers, &c., made from woollen fabrics prepared as described,
need only be disinfected and cleaned after having been used to make them fit for
repeated impregnation and continued use. This process of revivifying by repeated
impregnation forms a part of the present Invention, as well as the treatment of new
materials.
CLAIM.
The impregnation of wool and other suitable animal or vegetable fibres, whether
pure or mixed, as well as of yarn, knitted or woven fabrics, clothes, covers, and
other products made from the same, in the manner substantially as described for
precipitating in them sulphur in a state of fine distribution, and in order to apply
them for therapeutical purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Kesseler, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty eighth day of January, A.D., 1881.