AN IMPROVED DEPILATORY PROCESS FOR SHEEP AND OTHER SKINS AND HIDES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
DEPILATORY PROCESS FOR SHEEP AND OTHER SKINS AND HIDES." A com-
munication from abroad by Charles Jules Pierre Desnos, Civil Engineer, of
Paris. France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd September 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"AN IMPROVED DEPILATORY PROCESS FOR SHEEP AND OTHER
SKINS AND HIDES." [A communication from abroad by Charles Jules Pierre
Desnos, Civil Engineer, of Paris, France.],
This Invention relates to a process of removing wool and hair from skins and
hides by means of a product obtained by the washing in the cold of wools in the
grease. This washing yields an almost pure alkaline soap.
In carrying out the Invention the water used for the washing is evaporated and*
the residue calcined. The product thus obtained when treated with water gives
carbonate of potash, by the aid of which sheep and other skins may be unhaired.
To augment the depilatory property of the product I add a small quantity of
permanganate of potash. 200 grammes of carbonate of potash dissolved in a litre
of water will unhair sheep skins in half an hour. To unhair by dipping, a bath is
prepared by adding to this mixture ten times as much water, and the skins are
left therein one night only.
By this process neither the wool nor the skins are injured; the skins retain
their gelatine and are prepared for the tanning operation; the wool unhaired in
this way retains all its natural qualities and is as valuable as fleece wools. The
use of lime and arsenic which injure the wool or hair as well as the skins is
avoided.
By the present process a rapid and economical scouring is effected without
injury to the wool or hair. The process is inoffensive, improves the quality and
pliability of the leather, and affords a considerable gain in the quantity and
quality of the yield of wool together with economy of working, while the short
wool which may be collected is clean and scoured. The water coming from the
scouring and washing of the skins and hides contains residues forming a very rich
manure, which destroys the blight of the vine, imparts to the plant a new and
vigorous sap, and destroys the phylloxera..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd March 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"AN IMPROVED DEPILATORY PROCESS FOR SHEEP AND OTHER
SKINS AND HIDES." A communication from abroad by Charles Jules Pierre
Desnos, Civil Engineer, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to a process of removing wool and hair from skins and
hides by means of a product obtained by the washing in the cold of wools "in the
grease." This washing yields an almost pure alkaline soap.
"
In carrying out the Invention the water used for the washing is evaporated
and the residue calcined. The product thus obtained when treated with water
gives carbonate of potash, by the aid of which the unhairing of the sheep and
other skins is effected. To augment the depilatory property of the product I add
a small quantity of permanganate of potash. 200 grammes of carbonate of potash
dissolved in a litre of water will unhair sheep skins in half an hour. To unhair by
dipping, a bath is prepared by adding to this mixture 10 times as much water,
and the skins are left therein one night only.
By this process neither the wool nor the skins are injured, and the skins retain
their gelatine and swell up às desired for the tanning operation; the skins may be
worked on the horse without danger of burning the hands; the wool unhaired in
this way retains all its natural qualities and is as valuable as fleece wools. The
use of lime and arsenic which burn the wool or hair and are injurious to the skin
and even dangerous to the workmen is avoided.
By the present process a rapid and economical scouring is effected without
injury to the wool or hair. The process is inoffensive, requires none of the
precautions necessary with the methods ordinarily used, improves the quality and
pliability of the leather, and affords a considerable gain in the quantity and quality
of the yield of wool together with economy of working, while the short wool which
may be collected is clean and scoured. Moreover, the process is not prejudicial to
the public health as it does not cause any polution of water courses; on the
contrary, the water coming from the scouring and washing of the skins and hides
contains residues forming a very rich manure for agricultural purposes, and which
may be otherwise utilised, as it destroys the blight of the vine, imparts to the
plant a new and vigorous sap, and destroys the phylloxera.
In conclusion, by this process of unhairing an economy is effected in the tannin
used in, and the time required for, the subsequent tanning operation.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
The improved depilatory process for sheep and other skins and hides consisting
in the employment of carbonate of potash obtained, as herein described, from the
washing of wools in the grease, with or without the addition of permanganate of
potash, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal. this Second day of March, A.D. 1881.