IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE PREPARATION OR MANUFACTURE OF A SUBSTANCE OF A SUITABLE NATURE FOR INCORPORATING OR COMPOUNDING WITH VARIOUS ARTICLES OF FOOD"
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward John Theodore Digby, of Hammersmith, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING
TO THE PREPARATION OR MANUFACTURE OF A SUBSTANCE OF A SUITABLE
NATURE FOR INCORPORATING OR COMPOUNDING WITH VARIOUS ARTICLES OF
FOOD"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward John Theodore
Digby at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd October
1881.
EDWARD JOHN THEODORE DIGBY, of Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE PREPARATION OR MANUFACTURE OF A
SUBSTANCE OF A SUITABLE NATURE FOR INCORPORATING OR COMPOUNDING WITH
VARIOUS ARTICLES OF FOOD."
This Invention has reference to improvements in or relating to the preparation
or manufacture of a substance of a suitable nature for compounding with
farinaceous and other food for human use and with horse and cattle food, with the
object of rendering the same more highly nutritious and of an especially suitable
nature for the full and mature development of the bone or osseous structure or
framework of the human or animal creation.
The Invention is a further improvement or development of the subject matter of
the Inventions for which Provisional Protection has been recently granted to me
in respect of my applications for Lrs. Patents, No. 2377/5, for " Improvements in
the Manufacture of Finings' for Refining or Clarifying and Preserving Ales and
other Liquids," made on the 31st day of May last, and No. 2714/s, for "Improve-
ments in or Relating to the Preparation and Utilization of a Substance or Clay of
a Suitable Nature for the Manufacture of Various Articles of Utility or of
Ornament," made on the 21st day of June last.
In carrying my present Invention into practice I take any desired quantity of
oyster shells (as referred to in each of the hereinbefore mentioned Specifications)
D
...

page_text: which I thoroughly well wash with water so as to remove any adhering impurities;
1 then subject the cleansed oyster shells to the action of acetic acid (or of any
equivalent acid) in a closed vessel for a period of, say, about 24 hours. The inner
or white part of the shell can then be easily removed from the outer or dark part
wherever it still adheres to it, and I then remove it and subject it to the following
further treatment:-When dry I break up the said inner or white parts of the
well washed and chemically treated shells, and by any suitable means I grind
them to an impalpable powder or floury condition; I then pass this powder
through a sieve or dressing reel of any suitable construction, and consisting, as
regards its sieving or dressing surface, of fine silk or other suitable fine fabric
for the purpose of removing therefrom all the coarser particles or those of a gritty
nature.
The resultant powder or flour is of such a nature as will be of essential service
in readily repairing any weakness or lack of solidity in the osseous structure of the
human or animal frame, and in building up a strong and healthy bone frame, and
is of especial value to growing and ricketty children and for others suffering from
insufficiency of necessary material to form bone, and it is also of a flesh forming
character.
There is always present in children in the above mentioned conditions an
unnaturally acid state of the stomach and bowels, these conditions being. corrected
by the carbonate of lime which is the principal ingredient in the powder or flour
which results from the herein before described treatment, and is in the best possible
-condition-to-neutralise-that-acidity.
_In_order_that_the_said resultant powder or flour may-bo-well-assimilated-into-the-
structure by the consumer, and may so be efficaceous in fulfilling its intended
purpose, I combine it in any desired or suitable proportions with farinaceous or
other food for the use of human beings, and with the usual foods for the use of
horses, cattle, and other animals.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward John Theodore Digby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd April 1882.
EDWARD JOHN THEODORE DIGBY, of Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE PREPARATION OR MANUFACTURE OF A
SUBSTANCE OF A SUITABLE NATURE FOR INCORPORATING OR COMPOUNDING WITH
VARIOUS ARTICLES OF FOOD."
This Invention has reference to improvements in or relating to the preparation
or manufacture of a substance of a suitable nature for compounding with
farinaceous and other foods for human use and with horse and cattle food, with the
object of rendering the same more highly nutritious and of an especially suitable
nature for the full and mature development of the bone or osseous structure or
framework of the human or animal creation.
The Invention is a further improvement or development of the subject matter
of the Inventions described in the Specifications of certain Letters tents,
No. 2377/, for "Improvements in the Manufacture of 'Finings' for Refining or
Clarifying and Preserving Ales and other Liquids," bearing date the 31st day of
May last, and No. 2714/8, for "Improvements in or Relating to the Preparation
and Utilization of a Substance or Clay of a Suitable Nature for the Manufacture
of Various Articles of Utility or of Ornament" bearing date the 21st day of June
last.
In carrying my present Invention into effect I take any desired quantity of
oyster shells (as referred to in each of the hereinbefore mentioned Specifications)
which I thoroughly well wash with water so as to remove any adhering impurities;
I then subject the cleansed oyster shells to the action of acetic acid (or of any
equivalent acid) in a closed vessel for a period of, say, about 24 hours. The inner
or white part of the shell can then be easily removed from the outer or dark part
wherever it still adheres to it, and I then remove it and subject it to the following
further treatment :—
When dry I break up the said inner or white parts of the well washed and
chemically treated shells, and by any suitable means I grind them to an impalpable
powder or floury condition; I then pass this powder through a sieve or dressing-
reel of any suitable construction, and consisting, as regards its sieving or dressing
surface, of fine silk or other suitable fine fabric for the purpose of removing there-
from all the coarser particles or those of a gritty nature.
The resultant powder or flour is of such a nature as will be of essential service
in readily repairing any weakness or lack of solidity in the osseous structure of the
human or animal frame, and in building up a strong and healthy bone frame, and
is of especial value to growing and ricketty children and for others suffering from
insufficiency of necessary material to form bone, and it is also of a flesh forming
character.
There is always present in children in the above mentioned conditions an
unnaturally acid state of the stomach and bowels, these conditions being corrected
by the carbonate of lime which is the principal ingredient in the powder or flour
which results from the hereinbefore described treatment, and is in the best possible
condition to neutralise that acidity.
In order that the said resultant powder or flour may be well and easily
assimilated into the structure by the consumer, and may so be efficaceous in
fulfilling its intended purpose, I combine it in any desired or suitable proportions
with farinaceous or other foods for the use of human beings, and with the usual
foods for the use of horses, cattle, and other animals.

page_text: Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent,—
The preparation or manufacture of a substance of a suitable nature for com- 5
pounding with farinaceous and other foods for human use, and with horse and
cattle food, for the purposes herein before referred to, by subjecting oyster shells to
the washing, chemical separation, grinding, and dressing treatment hereinbefore
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward John Theodore Digby, have hereunto 1
set my hand and seal, this Twenty ninth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
EDWARD JOHN THEODORE DIGBY. (LS.)