AN IMPROVED SOAP
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Lewis, of Holborn, in the City of London,
Manufacturer of Refined Soaps, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
SOAP."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Lewis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th May
1855.
I, JAMES LEWIS, of Holborn, in the City of London, Manufacturer of
Refined Soaps, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Ax
IMPROVED SOAP" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in mixing iodine with soap at any stage of its
manufacture, whether previous to the same being formed into cakes or blocks
by soap boilers, or whether with such cakes or blocks after being remelted, in
order to produce what is termed refined soap. I find it most convenient to
apply the iodine in its pure state, when it readily combines with the potass in
the soap, and forms iodide of potassium. I do not, however, limit myself
to its employment in the pure state alone; but what I intend to claim is, the
production of an improved soap, formed by combining with the materials
ordinarily used in the manufacture of soap, iodine in any of its forms. My
improved soap will be found highly advantageous in most cases of skin
disease.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of tho conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Lewis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
November 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
LEWIS, of Holborn, in the City of London, Manufacturer of Refined Soaps,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Lewis, Her special licence that I, the said James Lewis, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James.
Lewis, my executors, administrators, and 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 "AN IMPROVED SOAP," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Lewis, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to bo
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 James Lewis, 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 thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in mixing iodine with soap at any stage of its manu-
facture, whether previous to the samo being formed into cakes or blocks by
soap boilers, or whether with such cakes or blocks after being remelted, in
order to produco what is termed refined soap.
I proceed as follows:-I operate upon the soap either in the state ordinarily
called soft soap, or previous to its formation into blocks or cakes, when intended
to be so formed, or after such blocks or cakes are remelted. I add so much
potash, if the stuff does not already contain that quantity, as will make up
two drachms of potash to one pound of soap, or in like proportion, to which I
also add two drachms of iodine (preferring that known as iodine re-sublimed)

page_text: in a liquid state. The iodine combines readily with the potash in the soap,
and forms hydriodate of potash, or iodide of potassium. The soap will be
found highly beneficial in most cases of skin disease, and will also form an
agreeable toilet soap.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that although I have described
the employment of a particular quantity of iodine, I have merely done so as
I find such to answer well in practice; but that I claim the manufacture of
an improved soap, by combining with the materials ordinarily used in the
manufacture of soap, iodine in any of its forms.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Lewis, have hereunto set my'hand
and seal, this First day of November, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-five.
JAMES LEWIS. (L.B.)