A Powder for Cleansing and Polishing Purposes and for Diluting Drugs.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Powder for Cleansing and Polishing Purposes and for
Diluting Drugs.
I, THOMAS CHRISTY, of 25 Lime Street, London E.C. Drug Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
I take any form of cellulose sufficiently pure such as sulphate wood pulp in the
unbleached state or cotton or linen purified by boiling or the usual methods &
bleached or otherwise according to the quality of the product required to be
obtained & I treat the material with such acids or their dilute solutions as produce
the well known disintegrating actions upon these fibres, or with oxidants such as
solutions of bleaching powder either digesting in the cold or at a somewhat clevated
temperature, say 60° Centigrade continuing until the fibre is disintegrated & when
bleaching powder is used falls under slight pressure to a powder.
This product when prepared by the action of acids has been termed
hydrocellulose, when it results from the action of bleaching powder or other
oxidants it is termed oxycellulose.
For the purposes of my invention which depends rather upon the mechanical
properties of the substances they may be taken as identical. They constitute
a fine powder insoluble in water tasteless & inodorous; under the microscope
the powder is found to consist of disintegrated fragments & shreds of the
original fibres. It is this semi fibrous character which I take advantage of
in the application for which I have found it peculiarly useful.
For instance
as a mechanical detergent for rubbing upon surfaces liable to be scratched
by mineral powders which are always more or less gritty, thus for tooth
powders for which it forms an excellent base; for cleaning & polishing glass
litho stones or metal giving a bright polish without danger of scratching the
surface or in the case of metals of chemically affecting them so as to cause
discoloration. It can be used in conjunction with such detergents as soap, soda, etc.,
with which it can be incorporated in any desired proportion to powders of uniform
composition adapted for all purposes of distribution & use for such pharmaceutical
uses as in the preparation of dilute forms of powerful drugs which are required to
be sub-divided for use, the fibrous powder serving to sub-divide the drug to any
required degree & being an inert substance without further effect.
In this class of products I include such antiseptic or aseptic agents as turpentine,
carbolic acid salicylic acid corrosive sublimate which may be incorporated with it
in any required proportion forming a "dry composition enabling the active
substance to be distributed over a large surface.
Dated this 92nd dow of March 1891
"
THOMAS CHRISTY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Powder for Cleansing and Polishing Purposes and for
Diluting Drugs.
I THOMAS CHRISTY of 25 Lime Street, London E.C. Drug Merchant do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
I take any form of cellulose or vegetable fibre in the raw or manufactured state
such as raw or waste cotton or sulphite wood pulp in the unbleached state, or

page_text: cotton or linen rag or yarn purified by boiling, or the usual methods & bleached or
otherwise according to the quality of the product required to be obtained and I
treat the material with such acids or their dilute solutions to produce the well
known disintegrating action upon the fibres, or with oxidants such as solutions of
bleaching powder, digesting the fibrous material with these re-agents in the cold or
at a somewhat elevated temperature say 60° Centigrade continued until the fibre is
so disintegrated as to fall under slight pressure to a powder. The product when
obtained by the action of acids has been termed hydro-cellulose, when it results
from the action of bleaching powder or other oxidants it is called oxycellulose.
For the purposes of my invention which depends rather upon the mechanical
properties of the substances they may be taken as identical. They constitute
a fine powder, insoluble in water, tasteless and inodorous & chemically neutral;
under the microscope the powder is found to consist of distintegrated fragments &
shreds of the original powder. It is this semi-fibrous character I take advantage of
in the application for which I have found it peculiarly useful; for instance as a
mechanical detergent for rubbing upon surfaces liable to be scratched by mineral
powders which are all more or less gritty thus for tooth powders, face & dusting
powders for which it forms an excellent base or can be used alone, for cleaning &
polishing glass, jewellery, litho stones, or metals, giving a bright polish without
danger either of scratching the surface or in the case of metals of chemically affecting
them so as to cause discoloration.
It can be used in conjunction with such detergents as soap, soda &c. with which
it can be incorporated in any desired proportion, to powders of uniform composition
adapted for all purposes of distribution & use for such pharmaceutical uses as in
the preparation of dilute forms of powerful drugs which are required to be
subdivided for use, the fibrous powder serving to subdivide the drug to any required
degree & being an inert substance without further effect.
In this class of product I include such antiseptic or aseptic agents as turpentine,
carbolic acid, salicylic acid, corrosive sublimate, which may be incorporated with it
in any desired proportions, forming a dry composition enabling the active substance
to be distributed over a large surface.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1stly. The application of vegetable fibrous substances converted by chemical
treatment with acids or oxidants, into fine powders of the disintegrated fibre cells,
as cleansing and polishing agents or mechanical detergents as hereinbefore described
either alone or in conjunction with other detergents of well known action.
2ndly. The application of such products as carriers of active agents, such
as antiseptics or in the preparation of diluted forms of drugs or pharmaceutical
preparations using these products as the inert base or distributing or diluting
material.
3rdly. The application of such products for tooth, dusting, face and skin
powders either alone or in combination with other products.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1891.
THOS. CHRISTY.