IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VOLATILIZING CRESYLIC ACID
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Henry Valentine, of the City and County of
Providence, and State of Rhode Island, one the United States of America, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
VOLATILIZING CRESYLIC ACID."
Sealed the 23rd December 1879, and dated the 30th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jaines Henry Valentine at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th June 1879.
JAMES HENRY VALENTINE, of the City and County of Providence, and State of
Rhode Island, one the United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD
AND APPARATUS FOR VOLATILIZING CRESYLIC ACID."
The object of this Invention is to secure the antiseptic qualities of carbolic acid
in a liquid form at the ordinary temperature and volatilize the material so as to
retain its full strength when filling every space of a room, so that it may be used
as a powerful disinfectant and antiseptic to kill the disease-germs in a room or in
the system of a patient, particularly in the respiratory organs. I find that cresylic
acid has all theso qualities, it is liquid at the ordinary temperature, its boiling
point is much higher than pure carbolic acid, and its superior antiseptic qualities
are endorsed by high medical authorities.
To volatilize or vaporise the cresylic acid I pour a small quantity of the same
into a cup, placing directly under the cup a deflector, and under the deflector a
small lamp; by this arrangement the direct heat of the flame cannot come in con-
tact with the cup, and the cresylic acid is vaporized without distillation; it will
fill a room and retain its original strength and virtue, and a patient can move
freely within the room, lie in bed, and sleep, or be occupied in any manner most
agreeable to himself, and the volatilized or vaporized cresylic acid will pass into
his system mixed with the air until it reaches the disease germs, which by
absorption retain the same and destroy the cause of the disease.
Practical tests in various cases have demonstrated the value of this method of
curing throat and lung diseases, and also the use of vaporized cresylic acid as a
disinfectant.
To disguise the odor of the liquid cresylic acid I mix small quantities of any of
the essential oils with the same, preferably such as oil of lavender, of which I use
about five drops to each three ounces; the oil of citronella may also be used with
good effect.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Henry Valentine in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
December 1879.
"
JAMES HENRY VALENTINE, of the City and County of Providence, and State of
Rhode Island, one of the United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VOLATILIZING CRESYLIC ACID."
The objects of my Invention are to cure and mitigate certain diseases which
have long resisted the efforts of the medical profession to cure or considerably
alleviate, such as whooping cough, scarlet fever, asthma, diptheria, and other lung
and throad diseases, and for other physical difficulties, also to prevent the spread
of contageous diseases; and the said Invention is to be used generally for the
purposes of disinfection and for other similar purposes.
The sources of these diseases are supposed to be destructive germs which work
injuriously in the system, producing special manifestations of diseases; and it is
believed that these germs may be destroyed by the antiseptic properties contained
in carbolic acid or cresylic acid, and carbolic acid is at present used in various
ways to prevent the growth of these germs, arrest putrefaction, and cure various
diseases.
Crude carbolic acid contains tarry matter, carbolic acid, and cresylic acid, and
when volatilized the lighter portions of the crude carbolic acid are separated
leaving the more solid matter, which when subjected to the heat of a flame is
decomposed and produces so strong and pungent a smell that patients suffering
from and weakened by disease are not able to endure it.
Pure carbolic acid crystallizes under ordinary temperatures and can only be kept
in liquid form when mixed with water or other fluids. It is therefore difficult to
volatilize the pure carbolic acid by the heat of a lamp in its pure state, and as its.
boiling point is low, about 335 degrees when pure, its virtue and efficacy are liable
to be greatly impaired by distillation.
One special object of this Invention is to secure the anti-septic qualities or
properties above specified in a liquid form at ordinary temperatures and to volatilizo
the material in such way as to retain its full strength when the volatilized material
is in and impregnates the air of a room for the design and purposes above
expressed.
I find that cresylic acid is best capable of filling all these requirements; it is
liquid at the ordinary temperature, its boiling point is much higher than pure-
carbolic acid, its superior anti-septic qualities are endorsed by high medical authority,
and it volatilizes more advantageously.
To volatilize or vaporize the cresylic acid I pour a small quantity into a cup,
placing directly under the cup a deflector, and under the deflector a small lamp;
by this arrangement the direct heat of the flame cannot come in contact with the
cup, and the cresylic acid is vaporized without distillation. The crosylic acid thus
vaporized will fill the room, retaining its original strength and virtue, and the
patient, waking or sleeping and pursuing any ordinary habit, will inhale the air
thus impregnated with this volatilized substance, thus reaching these destructive
germs and removing the causes of disease, and the spread of contagion will also be
prevented, and infected localities will become disinfected.
Whether the particular causes of disease above suggested are correctly assigned
or otherwise, practical tests in various ways have demonstrated the utility of this
material, vaporized by the process and means herein described, for the use and
purposes herein before expressed.
To disguiso the odor of the liquid cresylic acid I mix small quanties of any of
the essential oils with the same, preferable such as oil of lavender, of which I use
about five drops to each three ounces of the cresylic acid; the oil of citronella may
also be used with good effect. The apparatus I use is shown in the Drawings;

page_text: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a standard supporting a small lamp and a dish
provided with a deflector; the standard is made of twisted wire.
Figure 2 is a view of a modification of the standard; it consists of a base to.
support the lamp and a bracket arranged to support the dish, provided with a
deflector. Various designs may be used and modifications made in the standard to.
suit the taste and convenience. In the Drawings a represents a dish or basin.
secured to the standard; b is a deflector secured under the dish a, so as to protect
the dish or basin from the direct heat of the lamp; c represents the standard, which
extends from the base e upward and supports the dish or basin. The lamp f
rests on the bases and is provided with the shade g, so that the apparatus may
be used by an invalid at night without exposing too much light.
This apparatus combines the use of a night lamp and vaporizer. The wick of
the lamp must be adjusted with reference to the amount of cresylic acid to be
vaporized, and also so that the vaporization may proceed regularly for a fixed
length of time.
If a room is to be disinfected one or more of the devices are supplied with
cresylic acid, the lamps lighted, and the room is closed; the vapour will commence
to rise from the basin soon after the lamp is lighted, for the liquid cresylic acid will
vaporize at a low temperature, but the amount of vapour expelled will increase as
the temperature is raised, and the vapor will fill every part of a room, enter every
crevice, and pass through or between every article.
To do this most effectually the condition of the room should be continuously
changed by refilling the basin or basins until the parts of the room are permeated
with the vapor. To cure diseases of the respiratory organs the patient is placed in
a room in which cresylic acid is being vaporized in the manner heretofore described,
and is allowed to inhale the vapour mixed with the atmospheric air. I prefer to
use this treatment at night when the patient sleeps, but may be used at any
other time.
The cresylic acid being vaporized without decomposing the same by heat is
inhaled by the patient in its full strength mixed with the air of a room, so that
whilst the anti-septic qualities are not impaired the thorough mixture of the air
and vapor prevent the injurious effect that the direct application of cresylic acid
would have, and it can also be readily carried through all the respiratory organs
to the place where disease germs are located, or where decomposition, ulceration,
or other destructive processes are taking place, and by destroying their progressive
growth or multiplication it will arrest and cure the disease.
I do not limit myself however to the use of the particular mechanism which I
have shewn for the purposes of volatilization as above set forth. I may use any
similar or equivalent mechanism which will enable me to vaporize the substance at
a low temperature, that is, to volatilize without distilling. Nor do I limit myself
to the volatilization or distillation of the particular substances which I have indi-
cated. I may volatilize mercury or any other drug, substance, or material, for any
purpose above expressed, or for any other object, the main idea of my Invention
being the vaporizing or volatilizing of substances or materials at a low temperaturo
without distillation or injury, and the mechanism being considered as auxiliary to
this main end.
Having thus described my Invention I claim as new and desire to secure by
Letters Patent,―
1st. The process or method of volatilizing or vaporizing cresylic acid or any
other drug or material that may be advantageously vaporized for the uses and
purposes above expressed, or for other beneficial purposes, substantially by the means
and mechanism hereinbefore set forth.
2nd. The process or method of volatilizing or vaporizing such materials at a low
temperature and without distillation or injury by heat, substantially by the
mechanism above set forth or any equivalent mechanism for the above uses and
purposes.

page_text: 3rd. The use of cresylic acid, or other substances above mentioned, when
volatilized or vaporized at a low temperature by means substantially above
described for the uses and purposes above expressed.
4th. In an apparatus for volatilizing cresylic acid or other material, as abovo
provided, the combination with a stand of a basin, the bottom of which is protected
from the flame by a deflector, together with a lamp or similar means for heating
the same, substantially as and for the purposes above set forth.
5th. The apparatus or mechanism above described and shewn in the accompanying
Drawing for the purposes above specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Henry Valentine, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this the Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
JAMES HENRY VALENTINE,
(L.B.)
In the presence of
JOSEPH A. MILLER,
Civil Engineer and Solicitor of Patents,
Providence,
Rhode Island.