IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING MEAT, POULTRY, AND GAME
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edouard Gorges, of Neuilly, in the Empire of
France, at present residing at Panton Street, in the County of Middlesex,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING MEAT, POULTRY, AND
GAME."
Sealed the 6th August 1867, and dated the 9th February 1867..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edouard Gorges at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
February 1867.
..i
I, EDOUARD GORGES, of Neuilly, in the Empire of France, at. present
residing at Panton Street, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING MEAT, POULTRY,.
AND GAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the means of preserving
meat, poultry, and game in a fresh condition, and is composed of three distinct
operations, namely, first, a preliminary bath; second, the deoxygenation of the
air contained in the substance to bé preserved; and, third, creating a partial
vacuum in metallic cases or receptacles destined to receive the substance..

page_text: Chloride of sodium or sea salt
Glyceric acid or vinous acid
10
"
4
"
The glyceric acid is obtained as follows:-Anhydrous glycerine, hydrochloric
acid, and water mixed together in equal proportions, and the vinous acid is
similar, with the substitute of alcohol in an equal quantity for hydrochloric
acid; or a third bath may be used, composed of either of the following
ingredients: Sulphite, bisulphite, or hyposulphite of soda, which produces
instantaneous deoxygenation of the parts exposed to the air.
The object of these baths is to envelop the substance to be preserved with
a light crust or coating nearly impermeable to the external air, and their
duration is proportionate to the quantity of substance to be treated, varying
from some minutes to two hours, less time being required in summer.
Second, the deoxygenation of the air surrounding the substance to be pre-
served is obtained as follows:-The fat or grease intended for covering the
substance to be preserved is placed in the same bath for a similar time, and
after having been carefully squeezed or pressed it is to be rolled in contact
with crystals of sulphites, bisulphites, or hyposulphites of soda, or with any
other deoxygenating substance pulverized.
Third, after the substance is taken from the bath it is to be carefully
squeezed, wiped, and dried, so that the least' possible moisture may be
retained. At the bottom of the cases or receptacles there is placed a disc or
covering of the deoxygenated fat or grease, upon which the substance is
placed, and a second disc or covering is put upon it, and the case is closed
down. By means of a small metal tube fixed in the upper part of the case,
and the aid of a machine for exhausting the air a partial vacuum is caused
in the case.
This third operation possesses a double advantage, first, that the cases or
receptacles are hermetically closed, and then by removing the greater portion
of the air remaining in the case the deoxygenation of the air is consequently
facilitated.
I can apply silicate of potassa or liquid glass to the interior or exterior of
the metal cases or wooden barrels intended to receive the substance to be
preserved, in order to avoid the oxydation (of the metal) and the metallic or
woody taste which would be communicated to the substance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edouard Gorges in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDOUARD
GORGES, of Neuilly, in the Empire of France, at present residing at Panton
Street, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Edouard Gorges, Her special licence that I, the said Edouard
Gorges, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Edouard Gorges, my executors, administrators, and 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 PRESERVING MEAT, POULTRY, AND GAME," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Edouard Gorges, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, 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 Edouard Gorges, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My Invention relates to certain improvements in the means of preserving
meat, poultry, and game in a fresh condition, and is composed of three distinct
operations, namely, first, a preliminary bath; second, the deoxygenation of the
air contained in the substance to be preserved; and, third, creating a partial
vacuum in metallic cases or receptacles destined to receive the substance.
The bath in which the meat should be immersed is composed as follows:-
Water, 86 parts; chloride of sodium (sea salt), 10 parts; glyceric acid or
vinous acid, 4 parts.

page_text: The glyceric acid is obtained in the following manner, viz. :-Anhydrous
glycerine, 33-3 parts; hydrochloric acid, 33.3 parts; water, 33.8. The vinous
acid is combined in the same proportions, only the hydrochloric acid is
replaced by an equal quantity of alcohol previously rectified. The preparation
of these two acids requires certain manipulation, which I do not think it
necessary to describe here.
Another bath for the immersion of the substances to be preserved may be
composed entirely of a concentrated solution of sulphite, bisulphite; or hypo-.
sulphite of soda. The purpose of these baths is to close or envelop the
portions of meat cut with a light covering or crust nearly impermeable, to the
external air. The third bath produces the instantaneous deoxigenation of
the parts exposed to the air. The duration of the baths is proportionate to
the bulk of meat to be preserved, it varies from some minutes to two hours;:
it is however not so long when the temperature of the air is high.
Secondly, deoxigenating the air surrounding the meat.-The deoxigenating.
is obtained by the following process:-The fat or grease intended for covering.
the meat is likewise placed in the same bath and for the same time. After
having carefully pressed the meat the pieces are to be rolled in contact with
crystals of sulphites, bisulphites, or hyposulphites of soda, or with any other:
deoxigenating substance pulverised.
Thirdly, placing the meat in cases and the partial vacuum.-After the
meat is taken from the bath it is to be squeezed, wiped, and dried carefully,
so that the least possible moisture may be retained. At the bottom of
the cases or receptacles there is placed a disc of deoxygenated fat or grease;
the meat is introduced, and the case is covered with a second disc of fat
or grease rolled with bisulphite of soda, and the case is closed. By means
of a small tin tube fixed in the upper part of the case the partial vacuum is
formed by the aid of a machine for exhausting air, specially constructed for
the purpose..
This third operation possesses a double, advantage, firstly, that the cases or
receptacles are hermetically closed, then by removing the greater portion of
the air remaining in the tin case, and by facilitating consequently the
deoxigenation of the surrounding air.
I prefer to apply silicate of potassa, liquid glass, to the interior and exterior
of the metal boxes and cases and wooden barrels intended to receive the
preserved meat, so as to avoid the oxidation of the metal and the metallic
taste which would be communicated by the previous methods of preparation
of the meat.

page_text: I claim the method of preserving meat, poultry, and game in a raw state
and fresh condition, substantially as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edouard Gorges, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
EDOUARD GORGES. (L.B.)