Improvements in the process of waxing tissue ands
Year: 1886

page_text: I HENRY HARRISON DOTY late Naval Officer of Number 446 Strand in the
County of Middlesex England do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to Improvements in the process of waxing tissue and
other paper and textile fabrics; And the medication of the same for antiseptic
purposes;-And, as a substitute for oil silk in dressing wounds ulsers sores
burns &c, by which method I believe a more rapid and economical result is
obtained than hitherto known or used:-And for this purpose I employ a per-
pendicular cylinder or vessel, having the lower end closed by a head firmly
attached thereto, and hermetically closed, and strong enough to resist the outer
pressure of the atmosphere when a vacuum or partial vacuum is produced within
the said cylinder On the upper end of this cylinder, I employ a moveable head or
cover, near the rim of which, on the lower surface, is a groove in which I insert an
even strip of india-rubber packing, which, when the head is lowered on to the
cylinder, the rubber packing rests evenly all around on the end of the cylinder,
so that when the air is drawn from the closed cylinder by means of an exhaust
pump, communicating with the interior of the cylinder, through a stop-cock, the
outside pressure of the atmosphere forces a close union between the upper end of
the cylinder and the cylinder head, and prevents the ingress of air within the
cylinder.
On the lower end of the cylinder, or around it, I fix a steam jacket, or, a steam
coil may be placed within the cylinder, with which to heat (melt) the paraffin wax
to any desirable point, and also to heat the material to be treated, so as to absorb
any or all moisture it may contain, in order that the material may the more
readily absorb and take up a saturated supply of the wax.
In the center of the upper cylinder-head or cover, there is an opening for a
stuffing-box and a moveable piston, on the lower end of which latter, is attached a
cradle upon which to place one or more rolls or parcels of paper or other materials
to be treated.
On the upper end of the piston I attach an eye or ring with which to lower or
raise the piston cradle and cover.

page_text: At a convenient point or part of the piston, I attach a stopper beneath the
cover or cylinder head, so that when the piston is raised to a convenient position,
the cover is also raised by the stopper, sufficiently high to charge the cradle or to
remove the materials from the cylinder.
The wax for treating the materials is put into the cylinder, in sufficient quantity
to fill about one third of the cylinder in its molten state.
This being done, the cradle is charged with the material to be treated, when the
piston and cylinder head are lowered until the head rests on the upper end of the
cylinder, leaving the cradle suspended above the molten wax, until a vacuum or
partial vacuum is produced within the cylinder by means of the exhaust pump,
when the cradle is further lowered until the rolls of paper or textile materials are
submerged in the wax, when a cock communicating between the interior of the
cylinder and the outer atmosphere is opened, and lets in the full pressure of the
outer atmosphere to rest on the surface of the molten wax, and forces the fluid
through the rolls and parcels, which are then raised and removed from the cradle
and placed in a horizontal position on their spindles, and rapidly reeled off :-Or,
the rolls may be allowed to cool and be put aside until wanted-And on their
being required for reeling off for use, they may be placed over a steam coil situated
in the box from which the reeling is carried on, when the surface of the rolls are
heated the paper is readily separated and is again congealed or hardened on its
passage to the reel, thus rendering the sheets non-adhesive. In preparing paper
and textile fabrics for sanitary purposes, I employ refined paraffin wax with a high
melting point, in the manner before described, after carbolizing it with pure
carbolic acid by means of which the paper and textile materials such as fine tissue
silk, linen, cotton &c. may be employed in surgery, for wounds, ulcers, scalds,
burns &c And, for these purposes, I melt or heat the wax five or ten degrees
above its melting point, when I add about one half drachm of pure carbolic acid,
to one pound of wax, when the mass is thoroughly agitated until the whole of the
wax is is impregnated with the acid.
The great advantage I claim for paper and textile fabrics treated in this manner
for antiseptic purposes, is that in all climates they may be kept without being
deteriorated, and they will not adhere to wounds :-And as an economical dressing
will supply a desideratum long sought for.
Dated this 10th day of February 1886

page_text: Purposes.
I, HENRY HARRISON DOTY of 446 Strand in the County of Middlesex, late
Naval Officer, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in the process of waxing tissue and other
paper, and textile fabrics and the medication of the same for antiseptic and other
purposes, and as a substitute for oil silk in dressing wounds, ulcers, sores, burns &c.
by which method I believe a more rapid and economical result will be obtaine
than hitherto known or used.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ a perpendicular cylinder or vessel
having the lower end closed by a bottom firmly attached thereto, hermetically
closed and strong enough to resist the outer pressure of the atmosphere, when a
vacuum or partial vacuum is produced within the said cylinder.
On the upper end of this cylinder I place a movable head or cover, near the rim
of which, on the lower surface is a groove in which I insert an even strip of india-
rubber or other suitable packing, which, when the head is lowered on to the
cylinder will rest evenly all round on the end of the cylinder, so that when the air
is drawn from the then closed cylinder by means of an exhaust pump communi-
cating with the interior thereof through a stop-cock, the outside pressure of the
atmosphere will maintain a close union between the upper end of the cylinder and
the packing upon the cylinder head, and thus prevent the ingress of air.
On the lower end of the cylinder or around it, I fix a steam-jacket, or a steam-
coil may be placed within the cylinder with which to melt and heat the paraffin
wax to any desired degree, and also to heat the material to be treated so as to
drive off any or all moisture it may contain in order that the material may the
more readily absorb and take up a saturated supply of the wax.
Passing through a suitable stuffing box in the cylinder head or cover is a movable
piston rod, to the lower end of which is attached a cradle upon which may be
placed one or more rolls of paper or other materials to be treated.
Means are provided for raising or lowering the said piston rod and cradle, and at
a convenient point or part of the piston rod beneath the cylinder head may be
attached a ring or stop, so that when the piston rod is raised to the desired position
the cylinder head will be also raised sufficiently high by the stop to charge the
cradle or to remove the materials from the cylinder.
The wax for treating the materials is placed in the cylinder in sufficient quantity
to fill about one third thereof when said wax is in its melted state. This being
done, the cradle is charged with the material to be treated and with the piston rod
and cylinder head are lowered until the head rests on the upper end of the cylinder,
leaving the cradle suspended above the molten wax until a vacuum or partial
vacuum is produced within the cylinder by means of the exhaust pump. When

page_text: this has been secured the piston and cradle are further lowered until the rolls of
paper or textile materials are submerged in the wax, when a cock communicating
between the interior of the cylinder and outer atmosphere is opened admitting the
full pressure of the outer atmosphere on to the surface of the melted wax and this
will force the fluid through the rolls which are then raised and removed from the
cradle, and placed in a horizontal position on their spindles, and rapidly reeled off,
or, the rolls may be allowed to cool, and put aside until wanted; great care being
taken to frequently turn the rolls a little to ensure uniformity in the deposition of
the wax.
When the latter process is followed the rolls upon being required for reeling off
for use may be placed over a steam coil, situated in the box from which the reeling is
carried on.
When the surface of the rolls is heated, the paper is readily detached
and is again congealed or hardened on its passage to the reel, thus rendering the
sheets non-adhesive.
In preparing paper and textile fabrics for sanitary purposes and surgical uses
such as for dressing wounds, ulcers scalds, burns &c. I employ refined paraffin wax
with a high melting point in the manner before described, the wax being first
carbolized with pure carbolic acid, the material employed being paper or textile
fabrics such as fine tissue silk, linen, cotton, and the like: For this purpose I melt
or heat the wax to one or two degrees above its melting point and then add about
one half drachm of pure carbolic acid to the pound of wax, the mass being then
thoroughly agitated, until the whole of the wax is impregnated with the acid.
The great advantage I claim for paper and textile fabrics treated in this manner
for antiseptic purposes, is, that in all climates they may be kept without being
deteriorated. The waxed fabric or paper will not adhere to wounds, and as an
economical dressing, will supply a desideratum long sought for but hitherto
unfound.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
The improved process of waxing paper and textile fabrics whether for antiseptic
or for other purposes substantially as set forth.