IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUB- STANCES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUB-
STANCES." -A communication from abroad by William Adamson,
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th April 1872.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ANIMAL AND VÉGE-
TABLE SUBSTANCES," a communication to me from abroad by William
Adamson, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America,
to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention relates to a mode of treating flesh for articles of diet,
and obtaining fatty extracts therefrom; also to the treatment of vegetable

page_text: substances for preserving the same, and for the extraction of saccharine
matter therefrom, and consists essentially in subjecting the said animal
and vegetable substances to the action of hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon
vapours in any convenient form of apparatus, by preference such an
apparatus as is described in the Specification of my Patent dated
August 17th, 1871, No. 2168.
In carrying out this Invention as regards animal food the flesh is
desiccated and deprived of its fat, and reduced in bulk by the action of
hydrocarbon vapour, whereby it is rendered proof against putrescence,
and against the ravages of insects, while it retains all its nutritious 1
properties, it being also reduced to such a crisp and friable condition
that it can be readily granulated or ground, and used either alone or in
conjunction with other nutritious substances as an article of diet.
It is preferred to employ for the purpose the light and volatile hydro-
carbons, such as benzine, benzole, gasoline, or naphtha, the vapour of 1
which may be generated and applied to the flesh in many different ways
and by different appliances.
The effect of the hydrocarbon on the flesh, which may be that of any
animal usually killed for food, is to thoroughly desiccate it, deprive it of
the fat, and render it anti-putrescent, while it retains all its nourishing 2
ingredients. After the flesh has been reduced to this condition it may
be exposed to the air, or subjected to the action of heated air to evapo-
rate the hydrocarbon, sufficient traces of the latter remaining to prevent
the ravages of insects.
The vapour treatment renders the flesh crisp and friable, so that it a
can be granulated or ground and packed in a small compass for trans-
portation, and in this pulverized condition it is especially applicable
for the making of soups, or for mixing with other nutritious substances.
in preparing articles of diet.
be
The fatty matter extracted by the hydrocarbon vapour process may
deprived of all traces of hydrocarbon by evaporation, and may be purified
and used for the manufacture of soap, candles, and the like. Such
scraps and offal as is not fit for food may be subjected to the same treat-
ment so as to extract the fat, the residue being a valuable manure.
In treating vegetables (for example, the sweet potatoe) according to
this Invention it is best in the first instance to deprive the roots of

page_text: treatment.
The hydrocarbon treatment renders the vegetable crisp and friable, so
that it can be easily granulated and packed in a small compass for trans-
portation; in fact, it may be ground to the condition of flour, and in
this state, either alone or in conjunction with other nutritious substances
and in the preparation of a variety of articles of diet.
In treating sweet potatoes it has been found that after subjecting them
to benzine vapour under pressure for from six to eight hours, they are
completely desiccated, and can be preserved for any length of time.
Although the sweet potato has been referred to above, for the reason
that it is a vegetable which can be subjected to the treatment with the
best results, common white potatoes, parsnips, and other garden vege-
tables, as well as apples and other fruits, and, in fact, all agricultural
products which are used as food and which it is desirable to preserve
may be subjected to the same treatment.
The saccharine matter may also be extracted from saccharine bearing
vegetables, fruits, by first subjecting the same to the action of hydro-
carbon vapours as herein-before described, and afterwards to a leaching or
filtering process as described hereafter, the preliminary hydrocarbon
treatment rendering the extraction by filtration easy of accomplishment.
It has been ascertained that after treating with hydrocarbon vapours
such vegetable substances as contain saccharine matter, the latter can
be very readily extracted by leaching or filtration. From the ordinary
sweet potato, for instance, good syrup has been obtained.
It is preferred to crush, or cut into slices, or otherwise disintegrate
the roots, and then subject them to the action of hydrocarbon vapour.
The hydrocarbon has the effect of completely desiccating the vegetable,
without however dislodging the saccharine matter, which is in a con-
dition to be easily removed by leaching or filtration.
After the hydrocarbon treatment the slices of potatoes are crisp and
friable, and after exposure to heat, or to the atmosphere, or by soaking,
will lose nearly all traces of the hydrocarbon, and may be granulated
prior to the leaching process. Boiling water may be poured over the
granulated mass in a vessel, and the saccharine matter owing to the
preliminary hydrocarbon treatment being exposed to the influence of the

page_text: water will be taken up by the latter, and the result of the evaporation of
the solution will be a rich syrup or molasses.
Parsnips, beetroot, and other roots containing saccharine matter, as
well as pumpkins and other fruits, and even sugar cane may be treated
in the manner described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th October 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson,
my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE TREATMENT OF ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES," a communi-
cation to me from abroad by William Adamson, of Philadelphia, Penn-
sylvania, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 be 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 John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say:-
:-
This Invention relates to a mode of treating flesh for articles of diet,
and obtaining fatty extracts therefrom; also to the treatment of vege-
table substances for preserving the same, and for the extraction of
saccharine matter therefrom, and consists essentially in subjecting the
said animal and vegetable substances to the action of hydrocarbons or
hydrocarbon vapours in any convenient form of apparatus, by preference
such an apparatus as is described in the Specification of my Patent
dated August Seventeenth, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one, No. 2168.
In carrying out this Invention as regards animal food the flesh is
desiccated, and deprived of its fat, and reduced in bulk by the action of
hydrocarbon vapor, whereby it is rendered proof against putrescence, and
against the ravages of insects, while it retains all its nutritious pro-
perties, it being also reduced to such a crisp and friable condition that it
can be readily granulated or ground, and used either alone or in con-
junction with other nutritious substances as an article of diet.
It is preferred to employ, in carrying out this Invention, the light and
volatile hydrocarbons, such as benzine, benzole, gasoline, or naptha,
the vapor of which may be generated and applied to the flesh in many
different ways, and by different appliances; but the apparatus described
in the Specification of the said Patent, No. 2168/", will be found to
answer well in practice, because the flesh can be thoroughly subjected to
hydrocarbon vapors which, after acting thereon, can be condensed and
reused, so that there is little or no waste of hydrocarbon.
The effect of the hydrocarbon on the flesh, which may be that of any
animal usually killed for food, is to thoroughly desiccate it, deprive it of
the fat, and render it anti-putrescent, while it retains all its nourishing
ingredients.. After the flesh has been reduced to this condition it may
be exposed to the air, or subjected to the action of heated air to evapo-
rate the hydrocarbon, sufficient traces of the latter remaining to prevent
the ravages of insects. The flesh is now ready for storage and trans-
portation, and can be sold as an article of commerce. When required
for use all remaining traces of hydrocarbon can be removed by soaking
the flesh in water.
i

page_text: The vapor treatment renders the flesh crisp and friable so that it
can be granulated or ground, and packed in a small compass for trans-
portation, and in this pulverized condition it is especially applicable for
the making of soups, or for mixing with other nutritious substances in
preparing articles of diet. Flesh may be thus treated at distant points,
for instance, in grazing sections of the country, or at points where fish
are plentiful, and after treatment, owing to its great reduction in bulk,
it may be conveyed in compact packages to cities and towns without
any danger of being injured during transportation or storage.
The fatty matter extracted by the hydrocarbon vapor process may be
deprived of all traces of hydrocarbon by evaporation, and may be purified
and used for the manufacture of soap, candles, and the like. Such
scraps and offal as is not fit for food may be subjected to the same treat-
ment so as to extract the fat, the residue being a valuable manure.
The second part of this Invention consists in treating vegetables,
fruits, and other agricultural products commonly used as food with
hydrocarbon, as herein-before explained with reference to flesh, so as
to thoroughly desiccate the same, and reduce them to a condition in
which they can be preserved for any length of time, and in which they
can be granulated or ground, so as to be easily packed for transporta-
tion and be ready for use in the preparation of articles of food.
The said Invention further consists of articles of vegetable diet, treated
as described, and forming a new article of commerce.
It has been ascertained that vegetables can be most effectually
desiccated and reduced to the best condition for preservation and for
conversion into articles of diet by treatment with hydrocarbon vapor.
In treating vegetables (for example, the sweet potatoe) according to this
Invention it is best in the first instance to deprive the roots of their skins,
and cut them into slices, prior to the hydrocarbon vapor treatment,
which may be accomplished in many different ways and by different
apparatus, for instance, the apparatus substantially like that herein-before
referred to may be employed, and this apparatus is to be preferred, as
vegetables can be subjected therein to hydrocarbon vapors under a deter-
minate pressure, and as the vapor after acting on the vegetables is
condensed and used again and again, so that there is little or no waste
of hydrocarbon.

page_text: The effect of the hydrocarbon vapor on the potatoes is to thoroughly
desiccate them, all watery matter being extracted, without dislodging
the saccharine and other nutritious properties of the vegetable. After
being exposed to the air, or being dried by heated air, the vegetable loses
nearly all traces of -hydrocarbon, and the latter may be entirely removed
by soaking in water and during the process of cooking.
The hydrocarbon treatment renders the vegetable crisp and friable, so
that it can be easily granulated and packed in a small compass for
transportation; in fact it may be ground to the condition of flour, and
in this state, either alone or in conjunction with other nutritious sub-
stances used in the preparation of a variety of articles of diet.
In treating sweet potatoes it has been found that after subjecting
them to benzine vapor under pressure for from six to eight hours they
are completely desiccated, and can be preserved for any length of time.
The slight traces of hydrocarbon which remain after exposure instead
of being a defect render the dessicated vegetables a valuable article of
commerce, inasmuch as they are protected by the hydrocarbon from the
ravages of insects.
Although the sweet potato has been referred to above, for the reason
that it is a vegetable which can be subjected to the treatment with the
best results, common white potatoes, parsnips, and other garden vege-
tables, as well as apples and other fruits, and in fact all agricultural
products which are used as food, and which it is desirable to preserve,
may be subjected to the same treatment.
One important result of the Invention is that such a great reduction
in the bulk of the vegetables takes place that the latter can be trans-
ported and shipped in a very small compass.
In carrying out this part of the Invention the light and volatile
hydrocarbons, such as benzine, benzole, gasoline, or naptha are
preferred.
The saccharine matter may also be extracted from saccharine bearing
vegetables and fruits, by first subjecting the same to the action of hydro-
carbon vapors, as herein-before described, and afterwards to a leaching
or filtering process, as described hereafter, the preliminary hydrocarbon
treatment rendering the extraction by filtration easy of accomplishment.
It has been ascertained that after treating with hydrocarbon vapors such

page_text: vegetable substances as contain saccharine matter, the latter can be very
readily extracted by leaching or filtration. From the ordinary sweet
potato, for instance, good syrup has been obtained.
It is preferred to crush or cut into slices, or otherwise disintegrate the
roots, and then subject them to the action of hydrocarbon vapor, which
may be accomplished in different ways, as for example, in the manner
and by the apparatus already herein-before mentioned. The hydrocarbon
has the effect of completely desiccating the vegetable, without however
dislodging the saccharine matter, which is in a condition to be easily
removed by leaching or filtration.
After the hydrocarbon treatment the slices of potatoes are crisp and
friable, and after exposure to heat or to the atmosphere, or by soaking,
will lose nearly all traces of the hydrocarbon, and may be granulated
prior to the leaching process. Boiling water may be poured over the
granulated mass in a vessel, and the saccharine matter, owing to the
preliminary hydrocarbon treatment, being exposed to the influence of
the water, will be taken up by the latter, and the result of the evapora-
tion of the solution will be a rich syrup or molasses.
Parsnips, beetroot, and other roots containing saccharine matter, as
well as pumpkins and other fruits, and even sugar cane may be treated 2
in the manner described.
One great advantage of this mode of treatment is that the loss of
saccharine matter by fermentation, when it is extracted in the usual
manner, is in a great measure prevented, for the tendency of the solution
obtained after the hydrocarbon treatment to ferment is by no means so
great as that of the saccharine juices expressed directly from the vege-
tables in the usual manner.
As to the length of time to which the saccharine bearing vegetable
matter should be subjected to the hydrocarbon vapor treatment, that will
depend in a great measure upon the character of the vegetables treated, 3
and on the pressure employed; it may be remarked, however, that sweet
potatoes have been completely desiccated and reduced to a proper con-
dition for the filtering process by subjecting them to hydrocarbon vapor
under pressure of from thirty to sixty pounds per square inch for eight
hours.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or

page_text: carried into effect, I would obscrve in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,—
First. Flesh desiccated and rendered anti-putrescent and insect proof
by hydrocarbon vapors, as herein-before set forth.
Second. Treating articles of animal or vegetable diet, substantially in
the manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
Third. Vegetables and fruits treated substantially in the manner
herein-before described.
Fourth. The extracting of saccharine matter from saccharine bearing
vegetables and fruits, substantially in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of
October, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)