An Improved Corn Cure.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1898
An Improved Corn Cure.
I, THEODORE FRANKE, of 70A, Aldermanbury, in the County of London,
Manager, 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 corn cure, which is characterized by being
composed of a lens, eye or part which is adapted to soften and otherwise act upon
50 as to cure the corn and is composed of the ingredients hereinafter described;
a surrounding ring or shield composed of felt, flannel or analogous material
adapted to locate the lens on the corn and also to protect the surrounding inflamed
or tender skin from the action of the lens and from the pressure of the boot or
shoe; and a sticking binding strip to which both the lens and the ring shield
are applied and which serves to secure the same in the desired relative positions
and as a convenient means of readily applying the same to the affected toe or part
of the foot in such manner as to locate the lens on the corn to be treated and the
surrounding soft ring shield on the tender skin around the corn and to maintain
the same in such relative positions as long as it may be required so to do.
The lens or corn curing part of the appliance is composed of the following
ingredients, to wit; turpentine, preferably Venetian turpentine, tincture of hemp,
and tartar, whether cream of tartar or argol. I preferably use such ingredients
in about the following proportions, namely, 30% of the Venetian turpentine
10% of the hemp tincture, and 60% of the tartar salt, as I find the most satis-
factory results to accrue from the use of such ingredients in such respective pro-
portions, but I do not limit myself to the use of such or of any proportions of
such respective ingredients, as the same may be considerably varied with satis-
factory results.
In compounding the admixture, I warm the turpentine in an earthen pot over
a gentle fire or other source of heat, and drip the hemp tincture slowly into the
warm turpentine, gently stirring the admixture all the time, and then drop the
tartar salt (in a finely pulverized condition) into the admixture, while continuing
the stirring thereof to intimately admix the ingredients, after which, the result-
ing paste or pap is allowed to slowly cool, and, when dry, it is exposed to the air
or is air-dried for some days by when it will become ready for application to the
sticking binding strip and for use.
The tartar salt is used as the means of decomposing or softening the corn, and
the hemp tincture as means of mellowing or mollifying such solvent action and
of preventing inflammation of the corn or of the surrounding skin; and the
Venetian turpentine aids the tartar salt in its action and also keeps the whole
mass soft in a butter-like condition, preventing it from getting hard.
The said soft ring shield is cut from loose felt or flannel or the like material
of a square or other suitable shape and of any convenient or required size, and
with a central aperture adapted to locate the required quantity of the said admix-
ture or corn solvent composing the lens and which is filled into said aperture to

page_text: form said lens or eye. The ring shield when moist thickens and protects the
corn from outside pressure, and also serves to keep the corn solvent from spread-
ing and reaching the surrounding skin, thus causing the solvent to concentrate
its whole effect on the corn itself without liability of injury to the surrounding
skin.
The application of the corn solvent within an encircling soft ring shield adapted
to locate the same in such a manner as to cause it to concentrate its effect on the
corn itself and to prevent it from spreading to the surrounding skin forms a
distinctive and important feature of the present invention and ensures the
absolutely safe application of the corn cure to its intended use.
The sticking binding strip is made by spreading a mixture of gum and isinglass,
while warm, on a piece of calico shirting or the like. When laid on the skin,
the warmth thereof dissolves the gum and causes the binding to attach itself air
and water tight to the skin, so as to protect the corn from any interference which
would hinder the desired softening and decomposition thereof by the corn solvent,
which is speedily effected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A corn cure characterized by being composed of a lens or eye compounded
of turpentine, hemp tincture and tartar salt, and of a surrounding ring shield
composed of felt, flannel or the like adapted to locate the lens on the corn and
also to protect the surrounding skin from the action of the corn solvent, and a
sticking binding strip to which both the lens and the ring shield are applied and
which serves to secure the same in the desired relative positions and as a means
of readily applying the same to the affected toe or part, as set forth.
2. A corn solvent or corn curing composition compounded of the constituent
ingredients of turpentine, hemp tincture and tartar salt.
Dated this 9th day of August 1898.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.