An Improved Composition and Devices for Facilitating the Use thereof, Chiefly Designed for Preserving Animal and Vegetable Substances.
Year: 1888

page_text: Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
An Improved Composition and Devices for Facilitating the Use
thereof, Chiefly Designed for Preserving Animal and Vegetable
Substances.
1 HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved composition and devices for facilitating the
use thereof for preverving animal and vegetable matter, such as meat, fish, poultry,
farm-produce, preserves, milk, butter, eggs, beer and other fermented liquors, and the
like, and also for restoring partially decayed matter to a fresh condition, and for
sanitary purposes.
The said composition comprises, hydrate of potash, chlorate of potash, oxide of
manganese, and chloride of potash in substantially equal parts. These ingredients
form the base of the improved composition and are thoroughly mixed, by agitation or
otherwise.
The solution may be made by means well known to chemists, or in the following
manner -
A solution of hydrated potash is made, in the proportion of one ounce to six ounces
of water, and the oxide of manganese dropped gradually in and dissolved by applying
a spirit lamp beneath, and the moment ebulition occurs the lamp is withdrawn
and the solution of chlorate of potash added to take up what remaining particles
there arc.
To ensure the requisite adhesiveness of the ingredients of the said base, when a
solid composition is required, a mucilage consisting of gum tragacanth and peroxide
of hydrogen mixed in substantially the proportions of about one part by weight of
the former, to twenty parts by weight of the latter, is added to the base in the
077

page_text: proportions of about one part by weight of mucilage to ten parts by weight of the
base. The composition thus produced, consisting of the base which has the preser-
vative qualities, and of the mucilaginous substance, is compressed into a mould or
receptacle made in the form of a hollow cone, or of other desirable shape the said
mould or receptacle being of any suitable material, say of tin or zinc, or a
combination of metals. The bottom and the lower part of the sides of this mould
or receptacle are perforated with say twenty four holes to the square inch. For
preservative purposes the mould or receptacle containing the composition is usually
placed in a pan dish. or other open vessel which holds. a sufficient quantity of
water or other suitable liquid to cover the said perforations for the purpose herein-
after specified.
In the accompanying drawings are shown some applications of the said preservative
composition by way of example.
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in vertical section of a cone-shaped mould or
receptacle containing the preservative composition and placed in an open vessel filled
or partly filled with liquid..
Figure 2 is a vertical section of an ice box or chamber, in which are placed cone
shaped moulds or receptacles and open vessels containing the composition.
Figure 3 shows several cone-shaped receptacles and open vessels containing the
composition placed in a railway-wagon or truck for the transport of animal and
vegetable substances.
Figure 4 shows receptacles and vessels containing the composition placed in the
preserving chamber of a ship.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of a chest or receptacle for butter or the like, showing
several moulds containing the composition placed in a water tank or vessel formed in
the cover of the said chest.
Figure 6 is a perspective view, partly in vertical section, showing a cone-shaped
mould or receptacle containing my preservative composition inserted in a beer-barrel.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of a milk-can, showing the application to the cover of
the same of a cone-shaped mould or receptacle containing the composition.
In Figure 1A is the conical mould or receptacle which is perforated at and is
provided with a removable bottom or cover A¹ to permit the introduction of the
compound B. The bottom A¹ which is also provided with perforations a¹ is preferably
made concave or otherwise raised towards the centre so as to allow the liquid in the
pan free access to the perforations a¹ in said bottom. The mould after being filled is
placed in the pan C which is filled or partly filled with water or other liquid Das
above mentioned.
In Figure 2 the compound in the shape of cones is shown placed on the bottom of
an ice box or chest. The ice however is not essential except for cooling purposes, as
the preservative compound is sufficient to prevent decay.
.
In Figure 5 three moulds or receptacles containing the compound in the shape of
cones are placed in one water pan C the said pan being formed in the cover of a chest.
or other receptacle for butter or other greasy snbstance. In this case, the pan is
perforated as at a² to allow access of the vapour of the compound to the butter."
Figure 6 shows a mould or receptacle, containing the compound, reversed and
suspended from the bung of a beer-barrel, no water pan is necessary in this case as
the vapour from the compound is absorbed directly by the beer; instead of a bung_a
device similar to that shown in Figure 7 can be used for holding the composition. In
this Figure the compound in conical form is fitted and arranged in an inner perforated
receptacle attached to the cap or stopper of a milk-can, the perforations permitting
free access of the vapour from the compound to the milk.
There are many other places in which the composition is of great value, such as
sick rooms, hospitals, and the like and elsewhere for sanitary purposes.
In all the situations shown in the drawings (except that in Figure 6) the
preservative compound impregnates the water or other liquid in which it is placed
and the water evaporating, the air and the food or other substance confined therein,
becomes impregnated with the preserving vapour by which the food is kept from

page_text: putrifaction. In Figure 6 the preservative acts as above mentioned directly on the
beer or other liquid in the barrel.
In practice I find that a cone or cake of the compound of the weight of one
pound is sufficient to preserve substances enclosed in a space of about two cubic yards
for about from three to six months.
For restoring partially decayed matter to a fresh state, the base of the composition,
formed as above described, is dissolved in water or other liquid, in the proportion of
one grain thereof to one ounce of the water or other liquid.
The solution thus obtained is applied to the matter to be restored by dipping the
latter into it, the result being an almost instantaneous restoration of the decayed
matter to a condition of absolute freshness.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I wish it understood that 1 claim:
First. A composition for the purposes above specified consisting of hydrate of
potash, chlorate of potash, oxide of manganese and chloride of potash, with or
without gum tragacanth and peroxide of hydrogen or other mucilaginous substance
or compound in or about in the above mentioned proportions.
Second. A cone formed of the herein described composition for the purposes above
specified.
Third. A conical or other suitably shaped mass or piece of the herein. described
composition enclosed in a mould or receptacle provided with perforations at or near
its base the said mould with its contents being placed in a vessel containing
sufficient liquid to cover the said perforations, or otherwise arranged, substantially as,
and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. The improved device constructed substantially as described with reference
to Figure 1 of the drawings for the purposes specified.
Dated this 4th day of September 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.