IMPROVED CANDLES AND LAMPS FOR HYGIENIC PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent' Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED CANDLES AND LAMPS FOR HYGIENIC PURPOSES." A comminunication
from abroad by Pierre Lucien Quarante, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 26th May 1876, and dated the 4th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th February 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVED CANDLES AND LAMPS FOR HYGIENIC
PURPOSES."
A communication.
This Invention relates to hygienic candles for illuminating purposes, characterized
by the incorporation with their fatty matter of an antiseptic destined to destroy
during their combustion the miasmas in the air.
The investigations of learned men as to the causes of the maladies which beset
and attack the human species have plainly demonstrated that the greater part of
these maladies arise froin an atmosphere vitiated by spores of cryptogamia and
infusoria, reduced to dust by the drying of liquids, and susceptible of reproduction
in human beings and animals. Hygienic science is daily applied to the destruction,
by the antiseptics which science has placed at its disposal, of these obvious morbid
causes. To extend the utility thereof it is necessary to render it as practicable and
easy as possible. For this purpose I incorporate with the fatty inatter of the
candles such substances as benzoic acid, phenic acid, or other antiseptic, of which
the portion nearest the wick of the candle in burning furnishes oxygen to the wick
and augments the brilliancy of the light, and whose other portion entering the
fatty matter in fusion is volatilized, and thus destroys the miasmas which will be
found in rooms or apartments the most carefully kept and purified, and will thereby
keep the house in a healthy condition without any care or preparation by the
occupants, who in providing themselves with light destroy their invisible eneinies,
while the volatilization of the antiseptic does not engender any appreciable odour.
This branch of bygiene applied to dwellings is destined to render a great service to
humanity.
Generally the proportion of the antiseptic which should be incorporated with the
fatty matter is ten parts for every one hundred parts by weight of the candle, but
Din 171

page_text: this proportion may be varied according to the result to be obtained and the nature
of the antiseptic employed.
It will be understood that this Invention may be applied to any candles, and
also to lighting by oil. For the latter purpose it will be necessary to give to the
lamp burner a peculiar form, which will permit the volatilization of the antiseptic
employed. For example, I may provide the upper part of the burner with a small
bulb, in which is immersed the wick in such a manner that the liquid, finding itself
thus subjected to the radiation of the flame may be heated sufficiently before its
combustion to ensure the volatilization of the antiseptic matter.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd August
1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED CANDLES AND LAMPS FOR HYGIENIC
PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Pierre Lucien Quarante, of Paris,
France.
This Invention relates to hygienic candles for illuminating purposes, characterized
by the incorporation with their fatty matters of an antiseptic destined to destroy
during their combustion any miasmas or noxious exhalations in the surrounding
atmosphere.
The investigations of learned men as to the causes of the maladies which beset
and attack the human species have plainly demonstrated that the greater part of
these maladies arise from an atmosphere vitiated by spores of cryptogamia and
infusoria, reduced to dust by the drying of liquids, and susceptible of reproduction
in human beings and animals. Hygienic science is daily applied to the destruction,
by the antiseptics which science has placed at its disposal, of these obvious morbid
causes. To extend the utility thereof it is necessary to render it as practicable and
easy as possible. For this purpose I incorporate with the fatty matter of the
candles such substances as benzoic acid, phenic acid, thymotic (thymique) acid, or
other antiseptics, of which the portion nearest the wick of the candle in burning
furnishes more oxygen to the wick and augments the brilliancy of the light, and
whose other portion entering the fatty matter in fusion is volatilized, and thus
destroys the miasmas which will be found in rooms, or apartments the most carefully
kept and purified, and will thereby keep the house in a healthy condition without
any care or preparation by the occupants, who in providing themselves with light
destroy their invisible enemies, while the volatilization of the antiseptic does not
engender any appreciable odour. This branch of hygiene applied to dwellings is
destined to render great service to humanity.
Generally the proportion of the antiseptic which should be incorporated with the
fatty matter is ten parts for every one hundred parts by weight of the candle, but
this proportion may be varied according to the result to be obtained, and the nature
of the antiseptic employed.
It will be understood that this Invention may be applied to any candles, and also
to lighting by oil. For the latter purpose it will be necessary to give to the lamp
burner a peculiar form, which will permit the volatilization of the antiseptic
employed. For example, I may provide the upper part of the burner with a small
bulb, in which is immersed the wick in such a manner that the liquid, finding itself
thus subjected to the radiation of the flame, may be heated sufficiently before its
combustion to ensure the volatilization of the antiseptic matter..
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner. of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that claim, the incorporation with the stearine, suet, oil, or other fatty or
oleaginous matter employed for illuminating purposes, of a suitable antiseptic to be

page_text: volatilized by combustion, and thereby insure the destruction of the miasinas or
noxious exhalations or particles contained in the atmosphere of any room or apart-
ment, as above specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of August in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.'
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (LS).