A NEW POWDER OR COM- POSITION TO BE USED FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE INSECT KNOWN AS THE POTATO BUG' or 'COLORADO BEETLE,' OR OTHER INSECTS DESTRUCTIVE TO VEGETATION "
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Charles William Stanley, of Westbourne Park, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "A NEW POWDER OR COM-
POSITION TO BE USED FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE INSECT KNOWN AS THE
POTATO BUG' or 'COLORADO BEETLE,' OR OTHER INSECTS DESTRUCTIVE TO
VEGETATION
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Charles William
Stanley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th December
1878.
JOHN CHARLES WILLIAM STANLEY, of Westbourne Park, in the County Middlesex.
"A NEW POWDER OR COMPOSITION TO BE USED FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE
INSECT KNOWN AS THE POTATO BUG' OR 'COLORADO BEETLE,' OR OTHER INSECTS
DESTRUCTIVE TO VEGETATION."
The material or substance which I propose to employ for this purpose is tho
substance or composition known as arsenite of lime or arseniate of lime produced
by the combination of lime with arsenic, and either with or without other matters,
preferring to utilize for this purpose as the most economical form in which it can
be obtained a residual or waste substance from the manufacture of the Majenta or
other dyes in aniline dye works.
The waste residuum of such works contains two byc-products, one being of a red
The former contains a
or purple color and the other a black or dark brown color.
large per centage of arsenic in the form of arsenite or arseniate of lime and a per-
centage of coloring matter and other compounds, and the latter contains a larger
percentage of oxide of iron with other compounds.
propose to treat only the red or purple residuum, and my treatment thereof is
" Milburn "
as follows-I pass the waste substance through a
sewage drying
machine, or any other suitable apparatus capable of drying the material by evap-

page_text: oration and reducing the same to powder. The powder thus produced is of a
highly poisonous nature and is of a reddish purple color, and it may either be left
of this color, or any other coloring matter may be introduced to render it more
saleable; but I prefer to use it in its normal state as it is readily distinguishable
upon the plants, and any irregularity in the distribution is at once vissible. The
purple color of the powder also acts as a preventitive of danger from the accidental
use thereof for any other purpose.
This powder or composition may be used alone but I prefer to mix with it a
small proportion of flour, starch, or other glutinous compounds in the dry state,
and in this state it may be distributed upon the plants either by hand or by
mechanical means, or it may be dissolved in water and used in the form of a
solution to be sprinkled or dispersed on the plants in any convenient manner. The
powder or composition will be found to be most effective for the extirpation of the
potato bug (commonly called the " Colorado beetle ") the "cotton" bug, the "army
worm," the "canker worm," the locust, and other insects destructive to
vegetation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Charles William Stanley in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th June 1879.
JOHN CHARLES WILLIAM STANLEY, of Westbourne Park, in the County of S
Middlesex. "A NEW POWDER OR COMPOSITION TO BE USED FOR THE DESTRUCTION
OF THE INSECT KNOWN AS THE POTATO BUG' OR 'COLORADO BEETLE, OR OTHER
INSECTS DESTRUCTIVE TO VEGETATION."
The material or substance which I propose to employ for this purpose is the
substance or composition known as arsenite of lime or arseniate of lime produced
by the combination of lime with arsenic and either with or without other matters,
preferring to utilize for this purpose as the most economical form in which it can be
obtained a residual or waste substance from the manufacture of the Majenta or
other dyes in aniline dye works.
The waste residuum of such works contains two bye products, one being of a red a
or purple color and the other a black or dark brown color.
The former contains a large per centage of arsenic in the form of arsenite or
arseniate of lime and a per centage of coloring matter and other compound, and
the latter contains a large per centage of oxide of iron with other compounds.
I propose to treat only the red or purple residuum, and my treatment thereof is
as follows-I pass the waste substance through a "Milburn" sewage drying
machine, or any other suitable apparatus capable of drying the material by eva-
poration and reducing the same to powder.
The powder thus produced is of a highly poisonous nature and is of a reddish
purple color, and it may either be left of this color, or any other coloring matter

page_text: may be introduced to render it more saleable; but I prefer to use it in its normal
state, as it is readily distinguishable upon the plants, and any irregularity in the
distribution is at once visible. The purple color of the powder also acts as a pre-
ventative of danger from the accidental use thereof for any other purpose.
This powder or composition may be used alone, but I prefer to mix with it a
small proportion of flour, starch, or other glutinous compounds in the dry state, and
in this state it may be distributed upon the plants either by hand or by mechanical
means, or it may be dissolved in water and used in the form of a solution to be
sprinkled or dispersed on the plants in any convenient manner.
The powder or composition will be found to be most effective for the extirpation
of the "potato bug" (commonly called the "Colorado beetle") the "cotton bug,"
the "army worm," the "canker worm," the locust, and other insects destructive to
vegetation.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention, a poisonous powder
or composition containing arsenite or arseniate of lime, and prepared as above
described from the purple residuum or bye product obtained from the manufacture
of Majenta or other dyes in aniline dye works for the destruction of the "potato
bug" and other insects destructive to vegetation; and
Secondly. I claim the treatment and utilization of the said purple residuum or
bye product of aniline dye works, substantially in the manner and for the purposes
above set forth.
•
In witness whereof, I, the said John Charles William Stanley, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.