Improvements in or relating to the Treatment of Raw Hides.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st Sept., 1897--Accepted, 4th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Treatment of Raw Hides.
We, ERNEST ALFRED MUSKETT, and JOSEPH BARTON SCAMMELL trading as
John Burdon & Company, of 56, Leadenhall Street in the County of London,
Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the treatment of raw hides, its object being to preserve
the animal skins or shipment. Salt has hitherto been employed for the preserva-
tion of skins for shipment, but there are various well known disadvantages attach-
ing to the use of salt, such for instance as salt stains which spoil the appearance of
the leather.
Our invention consists in the use as the preservative agents of the compound of
Boron, preferably Boric acid, either alone or mixed with a small proportion of
Thymol;
This compound which we called "Boronite" is mixed with water in suitable pro-
portions, and the skins are then soaked thoroughly in the solution for say 12 to 24
hours or a shorter time in some cases, and either dried or left in a moist state.
It will be found that skins when treated by our process, arrive in a far better
condition than when salted and they are more easily prepared for the tanning
process and are equal to hides of home-killed animals."
Dated this 8th day of December 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Treatment of Raw Hides.
We, ERNEST ALFRED MUSKETT, and JOSEPHI BARTON SCAMMELL, trading as
John Burdon & Company, of 56, Leadenhall Street, in the County of London,
Merchants, 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; -
This invention relates to the treatment of raw hides, its object being to preserve
the animal skins for and during shipment. Salt and many other materials have
hitherto been employed for the preservation of hides and skins for shipment, but,
there are various disadvantages attaching to the use of all of them, as is well
known, to those in the Trade.
Our invention consists in the use as a preservative agent of a mixture, prefer-

page_text: ably composed of about 95 per cent. of Boric acid, in the form of powder with about
5 per cent. of powdered Thymol;
The following method of using this mixture which we call 'Boronite' as now
adopted by many hide and skin shippers we consider to be the most
advantageous; after having been well cleansed from dirt etc. the raw hides or
skins are soaked in tubs or tanks containing a 15 per cent. solution of Boronite
(say 1 cwt. to each 100 gallons of water) for from one to three hours, they are then
removed and spread out to dry, so that when baled they should be of about the
consistency of india-rubber, 'that is not 'flint dried.'
The above method of treatment applies of course to hides. or skins which aro
shipped dry, but for goods that are usually shipped wet in casks the process is the
same with the exception that the goods are not dried off.
It is desirable to dissolve the Boronite in hot water and to use it hot, but, this
is not essential.
If desired the Boronite can be applied to the hides or skins in the dry state, in
which case it should be well rubbed in on both sides of the pelt.
We do not wish to confine ourselves to the exact proportions of Boric Acid and
Thymol comprised in Boronite or to the exact details of the above process inasmuch
as different varieties of hides would necessarily require some variation in their
treatment, but not more so than would be readily understood and carried out by
anyone engaged in the Trade to which our invention applies.
It will be found that skins when treated by our process arrive in a far better
condition than when salted and they are more easily prepared for the tanning
process and are equal to hides of home-killed animals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
-
1. In the treatment of hides the employment of a preservative mixture of Boric
acid and Thymol substantially in about the proportions described.
2. The combination of Boric acid and Thymol in about the proportions specified
substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The method of treating hides and skins with a mixture of Boric acid and
Thymol substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of August 1897.
JOSEPH BARTON SCAMMELL.
ERNEST ALFRED MUSKETT.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicants.