IMPROVED COMPOSITIONS FOR CLEANSING AND PURIFYING THE TEETH AND FOR SWEETENING THE BREATH
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Morce, of Finchley, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVED COMPOSITIONS FOR CLEANSING
AND PURIFYING THE TEETH AND FOR SWEETENING THE BREATH."
Sealed the 28th December 1875, and dated the 1st July 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Morce at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st July 1875.
I, JOHN MORCE, of Finchley, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED COMPOSITIONS
FOR CLEANSING AND PURIFYING THE TEETH AND FOR SWEETENING THE BREATH,"
to be as follows :-
My Invention consists, firstly, of an improved liquid composition for
cleansing the teeth, and it is composed of the following ingredients,
the proportions herein-after given being adequate to the manufacture of
about half a gallon of the mixture:-Take 128 grains of permanganate
of potash, of a gallon of boiled water, ½ of a gallon of pure alcohol,

page_text: lb. Gouania Domingensis (macerated), 2 teaspoonsful of essence of
lavender, 120 drops of prepared liquid cochineal. The Gouania Domini-
gensis must be previously macerated in boiling water for 24 or 48 hours.
Mix and bottle.
My Invention consists, secondly, of a dry or solid powder to be used
for the same purpose as the liquid, and is composed as follows:-Take
of Gouania Domingensis (dry and powdered) 1 oz., carbonate of magnesia
1 oz., permanganate of potash (dry) 2 grains, flowers of lavender (dry)
1 tablespoonful, powdered cloves about 12 in number, powdered
pimento 12, which when mixed will make about 2 or 3 ozs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Morce in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st January 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MORCE, of Finchley, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Morce, Her special license,
that I, the said John Morce, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Morce, 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 " IMPROVED
COMPOSITIONS FOR CLEANSING AND PURIFYING THE TEETH AND FOR SWEETENING THE
BREATH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Morce, my executors or administrators, 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

page_text: in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
:1
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Morce, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof; that is to say :—
My Invention of improved compositions for cleaning and purifying
the teeth and for sweetening the breath consists of two distinct
préparations, mainly composed of the same ingredients, the one being
in the form of a liquid and the other of a solid compound. Either may
be used for the same purposo with equal advantage, the object of both
being to thoroughly cleanse the teeth and mouth and so sweeten the
breath; and as none of the ingredients are hurtful but on the contrary
are antiseptic, tonic, carminative, aromatic, and slightly stimulating,
the continued use of theso accessories of the toilet will conduce to the
health as well as to the comfort of all who employ them.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood and
put into practice I will proceed to describe the component parts of my
said improved compositions and my manner of compounding the same.
My liquid composition is manufactured in the following manner, the
proportions herein-after given being adequate to the manufacture of
about half a gallon of the mixture:-Take 128 grains of the per-
manganate of potash, one-third of a gallon of boiled water, one-sixth of
a gallon of pure alcohol (spirits of wine), half a pound of the dry fibre
of the plant called Gouania Dominigensis (previously macerated), two
teaspoonsful of essence of lavender, 120 drops of prepared liquid
cochineal or other coloring matter. The fibre of the plant Gouania
Dominigensis which grows in the Island of Dominica in the West
Indies and in other tropical regions must be previously macerated in
boiling water for 24 or 48 hours. The whole quantity of water necessary
is about one-third of a gallon. The whole of the above is then to be
well mixed and bottled.
My manner of preparing the solid composition is as follows:-Take
of dry powdered Gouania Dominigensis, one ounce; carbonate of
magnesia, one ounce; permanganate of potash, in dry form, two grains;
flowers of lavender, dry, one tablespoonful; powdered cloves about 12
1

page_text: in number; pimento powdered; about 12 or 24 of pimento only in lieu
of cloves which when mixed will make about 2 or 3 ounces. The
Gouania Dominigensis should be ground, and the spices should also be
ground or pulverised, and all the above should be made into an
impalpable powder and be thoroughly intermixed.
Both compositions are to be used at the toilet in the same manner as
ordinary tooth powder or tooth tinctures.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and how the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not restrict
myself to the precise quantities herein-before described of the several
ingredients, as the same may be varied without departing from the
specific nature of my Invention; but what I claim and desire to secure
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the manufacture
of a liquid and solid composition for cleansing the teeth and sweetening
the breath, wherein any decoction, solution, powder, or preparation of
the plant called Gouania Dominigensis is used.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Morce, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
CHARLES BARLOW,
Patent Agent,
23, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.
JOHN MORCE. (L.S.)