IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRESERVATION OF ALIMENTARY SUBSTANCES. AND THE USE OF COMPOSITIONS THEREFOR
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Foster Wilkins, of Lavender Road, Clapham
९
Junction, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, for an Invention of
“IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRESERVATION OF ALIMENTARY SUBSTANCES. AND
-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Foster Wilkins at
the Office of the Commissioners. of Patents on the 12th January 1881.
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3
THOMAS FOSTER WILKINS, of Lavender Road, Clapham Junction, in the County
of Surrey, Gentleman. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRESERVATION OF ALIMENTARY
SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE USE OF COMPOSITIONS THEREFOR." -
or,
.7
:-
My Invention relates to the preservation of various alimentary substances, such
as meat, fish, shell-fish, eggs, and certain vegetables, by treating them, firstly,
with an antiseptic or a combination of antiseptics, and then coating them with
uncrystallized hydro-carbon; in some cases, by coating them with uncrystallized
hydro-carbon without previous treatment with an antiseptic or antiseptics.
The mode of procedure may be as follows:-I propose to immerse the articles to
be preserved in a solution of one or more of the following substances, namely
Potassic chloride, sodic chloride, boracic acid, glacial metaphosphoric acid, alum,
sugar, or the borates, biborates, silicates, acetates, and carbonates of the alkalis.
From 2 grains to 30 grains should be used of metaphosphoric or orthophosphoric
acid (I would mention that the former speedily becomes converted into the latter
when kept in solution); from 3 grains to 45 grains of sugar; from 1 grain to 1 dram
of any other of the said antiseptics.
Or, in lieu of placing the articles in the antiseptic bath, I may inject the solution
by means of a "Carson's" instrument (which may be modified for that purpose as
may be required), or using any suitable injector.
The article being sufficiently impregnated with the antiseptic solution, I propose
to dip it into melted uncrystallized hydro-carbon, such as chrisma, cosmoline,
vaseline, or preferably phylaxine; or I may in some cases find it expedient to use
this coating without the previous antiseptic treatment.
After the article has been dipped into the uncrystallized bydro-carbon I may,
when desirable, wrap the article in paper, vegetable parchment, muslin, or other
suitable envelope previously brushed over with melted hydro-carbon.

page_text: SPECIFICATION -in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Foster Wilkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th July 1881.
THOMAS FOSTER WILKINS, of Lavender Road, Clapham Junction, in the County
of Surrey, Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRESERVATION OF ALIMENTARY
SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE USE OF COMPOSITIONS THEREFOR.'
"
My Invention relates to the preservation of various alimentary substances, such
as meat, fish, shell fish, eggs, and certain vegetables, by treating them, firstly,
with an antiseptic or a combination of antiseptics, and then coating them with
uncrystallized hydro-carbon; or, in some cases, by coating them with uncrystallized
hydro-carbon without previous treatment with an antiseptic or antiseptics.
The mode of procedure is as follows:-
I immerse the article to be preserved, whether an animal or a vegetable substance,
in a solution of one or more antiseptics.
Or, in lieu of placing the articles in an antiseptic bath, I may inject the solution
by means of a "Carson's" instrument (which may be modified for that purpose as
may be required), or by using any suitable injector.
The strength of the antiseptic solution will necessarily vary with the nature of
the article to be treated, and also with the mode of applying the solution. In
using metaphosphoric or orthophosphoric acid I may employ from 2 grains to
30 grains of the acid; from 3 grains to 45 grains of sugar for every pound of the
article to be preserved; with other antiseptics, from one grain to one dram, and in
solution or otherwise.
In the preservation of kippered fish I have found the following solution and
treatment to answer well:-
°
I take one part of sodium biborate and mix with two parts of sugar.
For each pound of fish to be kippered I add from 1/2 dram to 4 drams of this
mixture to the quantity of sodium of chloride usually employed for salting, whether
it should be employed in the dry state or as brine.
The article being sufficiently impregnated with the antiseptic solution (which
point of impregnation necessarily varies with the nature of the article treated), I
dip it into melted uncrystallized hydro-carbon, such as chrisma, cosmoline, vaseline,
or preferably phylaxine; or I inay in some cases find it expedient to use this
coating without the previous antiseptic treatment.
After the article has been dipped into the melted uncrystallized hydro-carbon
I may, when desirable, wrap the article in paper, vegetable parchment, muslin, or
other suitable envelope previously brushed over with melted hydro-carbon.
I would have it understood that in mentioning sodium biborate and sugar as
suitable for preserving kippered fish, I do not propose to confine myself to the use
of, those antiseptics, but to use any antiseptics or combination of antiseptics which
I'may find suitable for my purposes; also that I do not claim the use of the anti-
septic treatment "per se," as I am aware that the antiseptics I have mentioned
and others have already been used for the purpose of preserving alimentary
substances.
I would also have it clearly understood that I do not propose to use a coating of
any kind of hydro carbon but simply of such as is uncrystallized.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be performed,
I claim as secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent,―
Firstly. The process of preserving alimentary substances by first treating them

page_text: with an antiseptic or antiseptics, and afterwards coating them with uncrystallized
hydro-carbon, substantially as described.
coating for preserving
Secondly. The use of uncrystallized hydro-carbon as a
alimentary substances, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Foster Wilkins, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
THOMAS FOSTER WILKINS. (LS.)