IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING MEAT, FISH, AND OTHER ALIMENTARY SUBSTANCES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer, of Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING MEAT,
FISH, AND OTHER ALIMENTARY SUBSTANCES." A communication from abroad
James Potter McLean, of New York, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 21st August 1877, and dated the 24th February 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Griffith Brewer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th February 1877.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
*IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING MEAT, FISH, AND OTHER ALIMENTARY SUBSTANCES."
(A communication from abroad by James Potter McLean, of New York, in the
United States of America.)
This Invention refers to a composition or compositions which may be termed
carbono-gypseous plastic coatings or compositions.
In order to clearly explain the nature of the composition or plastic jacket and its
effects upon animal or vegetable matter, I will bere state its chemical properties and
its effect upon decomposing matter.
Wood charcoal is composed of a superabundance of carbon and a small proportion
of oxygen; gypsum is composed of sulphuric acid and lime. The purifying nature
of both of these natural products are well known to the chemist and engineer.
Charcoal recently prepared has the property of resisting putrefraction in animal and
vegetable substances, particularly in animal substances to such a degree that meat
has been known to be rendered sweet after it has once been tainted, and the most
stagnant water has been made (perfectly sweet and pure by the introduction of
common gypsum or plaster of Paris, or by filtering the same through pulverized
charcoal. The carbon enters into a combination with the lime, thus forming a com-
pound destitute of volatility, and consequently of smell, which renders it one of the
best preparations for preparing meat, fish, or vegetables for long shipments, as well
as being a perfect non-conductor of heat or cold.
I will now describe the mode of preparing and applying the same according to
this Invention.

page_text: Take for example a shoulder or ham of pork, or say smoked salmon; wrap it
tightly in an open canvas jacket; it is then ready to receive the plastic coating
which is prepared and applied as follows:-To. three pounds of common ground
gypsum add three parts of pulverized charcoal, to which add a suitable quantity of
waste textile or vegetable fibres, such as threads of cotton or linen cut in short
lengths, or oats, chaff, short "hay, or their equivalents may be successfully used to
bind the mixture together. When the same is mixed in water to the consistency
of thin paste in a similar manner to the use of hair in mortar for building purposes,
after thoroughly mixing the above compound, apply the same upon the open
canvas jacket surrounding the ham or fish with a brush, or by submerging the
article to be coated into the mixture itself until a coating of one-eighth of an inch,
more or less, is produced over the entire ham or fish. While the coating is in a
wet state apply the outer jacket of canvas, which finishes the operation, unless
it is deemed requisite to apply an additional coating of any resinous gum or
equivalent to more fully protect the plastic shell from fracture; or the same may be
painted if thought best without injury to the meat. It is not necessary to use the
canvas jackets in preparing fruit, but simply wrap the plastic jacketed fruit in paper
in lieu of canvas.
After having thus described the mode of preparing the plastic coating, I would
here state that a small quantity of chloride of sodium or common salt may be
mixed with the above compound to great advantage, particularly in the preservation
of meats; and in order to increase the adhesiveness and hardening properties of this
plastic coating a small quantity of hydraulic cement mixed in with the charcoal and
silicate of soda may be added.
The Invention is not confined to any specific proportions of the above ingredients,
but use any suitable quantity of either of the above described, whether applied in
separate layers or mixed, and applied substantially as above set forth; or the case or
barrel used for packing in bulk, hams, fruit, fish, or other articles to be preserved is
prepared by first burning it upon the inner side or surface thereof until it becomes
covered with a charred coating, then coat the same with a plastic coating composed
of powdered wood, charcoal, and gypsum mixed with liquid, silicate of soda, or fluid
glass in any suitable proportion, which acts only as a cementing medium of great
adhesive power, and is perfectly harmless in its effects upon either vegetable
matter or animal substance. After thus preparing the inside of the case, upon the
inner upper surface of the bottom thereof is placed a layer of dry powdered gypsum
and charcoal mixed, substantially as above set forth, upon the layer the hams, fruit,
eggs, fish, or other articles are placed (closely packed), and then cover the same with
the above dry powdered mixture; then add another layer of provisions and another
of the carbono-gypseous powder, vice versa.
In order to guard against soiling or smutting the fruit or meat or other articles
with the wood charcoal each article should be wrapped as above, in either paper,
cloth, or tin foil before packing the same, and when the case or barrel is nearly full
a piece of canvas prepared with a plastic coating as above specified may be spread
(if thought necessary) over the top layer of the powder to prevent the absorption of
the outside gases by the carbon, which should be kept from the air as much as
possible to render it more perfect in its action as a preservative agent.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Edward Griffith Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
August 1877.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING MEAT, FISH, AND OTHER ALIMENTARY SUBSTANCES."
(A communication from abroad by James Potter McLean, of New York, in the
United States of America).

page_text: This invention refers to a composition or compositions which may be termed
carbono-gypseous, plastic coatings, or compositions for enclosing therein meat, fish,
or fruit for shipment, especially to hot climates.
:
In order to clearly explain the nature of the composition or plastic jacket and its
effects upon animal or vegetable matter, I will here state its chemical properties and
its effect upon decomposing matter..
Wood charcoal is composed of a superabundance of carbon and a small proportion
of oxygen; gypsum is composed of sulphuric acid and lime. The purifying nature
of both of these natural products are well known to the chemist and engineer.
Charcoal recently prepared has the property of resisting putrefaction in animal and
vegetable substances, particularly in animal substances, to such a degree that ineat
has been known to be rendered sweet after it has once been tainted, and the most
stagnant water has been made perfectly sweet and pure by the introduction of
common gypsum or plaster of Paris, or by filtering the same through pulverized
charcoal. The carbon enters into a combination with the lime, thus formning a com-
pound destitute of volatility, and consequently of sinell, which renders it one of the
best preparations for preparing meat, fish, or vegetables for long shipments, as well
as being a perfect non-conductor of heat or cold.
I will now describe the mode of preparing and applying the same according to
this Invention.
Take, for example, a shoulder or ham of pork; or say smoked salmon, wrap it
tightly in an open canvas jacket; it is then ready to receive the plastic coating
which is prepared and applied as follows:-To three pounds of common ground
gypsum add three parts of pulverized charcoal, to which add a suitable quantity of
waste textile or vegetable fibres, such as threads of cotton or linen cut in short
lengths, or oats, chaff, short hay, or their equivalents may be successfully used to
bind the mixture together. When the same is mixed in water to the consistency of
thin paste in a similar manner to the use of hair in mortar for building purposes,
after thoroughly mixing the above compound, apply the same upon the open
canvas jacket surrounding the ham or fish with a brush, or by submerging the
article to be coated into the mixture itself until a coating of one-eighth of an inch,
more or less, is produced over the entire ham or fish. While the coating is in a wet
state apply the outer jacket of canvas, which finishes the operation, unless it is
deemed requisite to apply an additional coating of any resinous gum or equivalent
to more fully protect the plastic shell from fracture; or the same may be painted
if thought best without injury to the meat. It is not necessary to use the canvas
jackets in preparing fruit, but simply to wrap the plastic jacketed fruit in paper in
lieu of canvas.
After having thus described the mode of preparing the plastic coating, I would
here state that a small quantity of chloride of sodium or common salt may be.
mixed with the above compound to great advantage, particularly in the preservation
of meats, and in order to increase the adhesiveness and hardening properties of this
plastic coating a small quantity of hydraulic cement mixed in with the charcoal and
silicate of soda may be added.
The Invention is not confined to any specific proportions of the above ingredients,
but any suitable quantity of either of the above described may be used, whether
applied in separate layers or mixed, and applied substantially as above set forth; or
the case or barrel used for packing in bulk, hams, fruit, fish, or other articles to be.
preserved is prepared by first burning it upon the inner side or surface thereof, until
it becomes covered with a charred coating, then coat the same with a plastic coating
composed of powdered wood, charcoal, and gypsum mixed with liquid silicate of
soda or fluid glass in any suitable proportion, which acts only as a cementing
medium of great adhesive power, and is perfectly harmless in its effects upon either
vegetable matter or animal substance. After thus preparing the inside of the case,
upon the inner upper surface of the bottom thereof, is placed a layer of dry powdered
gypsum and charcoal mixed, substantially as above set forth, upon the layer the
bams, fruit, eggs, fish, or other articles are placed (closely packed), and then cover
.

page_text: the same with the above dry powdered mixture, then add another layer of pro-
visions and another of the carbono-gypseous powder, vice versa.
In order to guard against soiling or smutting the fruit, meat, or other articles
with the wood charcoal, each article should be wrapped as above in either paper,
cloth, or tin foil before packing the same, and when the case or barrel is nearly full
a piece of canvas prepared with a plastic coating, as above specified, may be spread
(if thought necessary) over the top layer of the powder to prevent the absorption of
the outside gases by the carbon, which should be kept from the air as much as
possible to render it more perfect in its action as a preservative agent.
I claim,―
First. Preparing and applying the plastic jacket or coating to the alimentary
substances in combination with the wrappers or otherwise, substantially as described,
or separately applied in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Secondly. The plastic coating prepared and applied to the internal surface of a
case or barrel containing the alimentary substances to be packed, in combination
with the dry powdered preservative, all prepared and applied, substantially as above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
E. G. BREWER. (L.S.)