A NEW FIREWORK, PRODUCING INSTANTANEOUSLY THE FORMS OF SERPENTS AND OTHER FORMS OF A LIKE NATURE
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Tolhausen,
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th September 1865.
I, FREDERICK TOLHAUSEN, of 149, Boulevard Magenta, Paris, in the
Empire of France, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "A NEW FIREWORK, PRODUCING INSTANTANEOUSLY THE FORMS OF
SERPENTS AND OTHER FORMS OF A LIKE NATURE," a communication to me from
Frederic Barnett and Charles Albert Roussille, two persons resident at
No. 164, Rue de Rivoli, Paris, to be as follows:-
This firework is composed of a substance which, on being burnt, developes
itself into a snake-like or dendritical tortuous form, thus producing a pleasing

page_text: and astonishing effect. The matter we use for this purpose is sulpho-
cyanide of mercury, which we obtain by ordinary and known means, by the
action of nitrate of mercury on sulpho-cyanide of potassium. This matter
having been prepared and well dried we form or mould it into cones or any
other convenient shape, which we then cover with tin foil or any other matter
answering the same purpose. This covering confines its development to the
shapes desired, and, on completion, light by a match or other form of fire
being applied at the apex of the cone, the imitation serpent or other desired
form developes itself.
SPECIFICATION filéd in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Frederick Tolhausen
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th March 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
TOLHAUSEN, of 149, Boulevart Magenta, Paris, in the Empire of France,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Frederick Tolhausen, Her special licence that I, the said
Frederick Tolhausen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Frederick Tolḥausen, 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 "A NEW FIREWORK, PRODUCING INSTANTANEOUSLY THE FORMS OF
SERPENTS AND OTHER FORMS OF A LIKE NATURE," a communication to me from
Frederic Barnett and Charles Albert Roussille, two persons resident at Number
164, Rue de Rivoli, Paris, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Frederick Tolhausen, 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
in the Great Seal Patent Office on or before the Twenty-eighth day of March
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick Tolhausen, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This firework is composed of a substance which, on being burnt, developes
itself into a snake-like or dendrical tortuous form, producing an extraordinary
effect. The matter I use for this purpose is the sulpho-cyanide of mercury,
which I obtain by ordinary and known means. This matter being prepared
and well dried, I form or mould it into cones or any other convenient shape,
which by preference I cover with tin foil or any other matter answering the
same purpose. In some cases I shall manufacture these objects in various
shapes and without enveloping them in an external covering. When these
objects are ready for use, light by the ignition of a match or any other
description of flame being applied to the summit of the cones or to any other
point that shall be indicated in any of the various forms, will cause the
immediate developement of the imitation serpents or other similar forms.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Tolhausen, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of March, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
F. TOLHAUSEN.
(L.S.)