A METHOD OF TREATING CERTAIN PLANTS OR VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES IN ORDER TO EXTRACT FROM THE SAME, 1ST, A KIND OF FECULA OR FARINA, PROPER BOTH FOR ALIMENTARY AND FINISHING OR STARCHING PURPOSES; 2ND, AN ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR; AND, 3RD, A NATURAL FERMENT OR YEAST
Year: 1857

page_text: ...
LETTERS PATENT to Romain Ignace Charles Dubus, of Brussels, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, Merchant, for the Invention of "A METHOD OF
TREATING CERTAIN PLANTS OR VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES IN ORDER TO EXTRACT
FROM THE SAME, 1ST, A KIND OF FECULA OR FARINA, PROPER BOTH FOR
ALIMENTARY AND FINISHING OR STARCHING PURPOSES; 2ND, AN ALCOHOLIC
LIQUOR; AND, 3RD, A NATURAL FERMENT OR YEAST."
1
Sealed the 23rd April 1858, and dated the 4th November 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Romain ! Ignace Charles
Dubus at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 4th November 1857.
I, ROMAIN IGNACE CHARLES DUBUS, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
A. METHOD OF TREATING CERTAIN PLANTS OR VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES IN ORDER
TO EXTRACT FROM THE SAME, 1ST, A KIND OF FECULA OR FARINA, PROPER BOTH FOR
ALIMENTARY AND FINISHING.OR STARCHING PURPOSES; 2ND, AN ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR!;
AND, 3D, A NATURAL FERMENT OR YEAST," to be as follows:-
"The plants or vegetable substances which I propose to use for the purposes
of my Invention are the bulbs of the lily tribe, and in carrying out my
Invention I prefer to use the bulbs of that kind of lily known as the Turk's
cap lily.

page_text: The principal features of the process whereby I am enabled to obtain the
useful substances above referred to may be briefly described as follows:-
After having cleansed the roots from dirt by washing, and removed the
fibrous roots from the bulbs, the latter are to be mashed in a mortar, so as to
reduce them to a mucilaginous pulp, upon which must be poured a quantity of
After steeping the pulp, it is placed upon a hair sieve, and the
glutinous water that runs away-is to be collected. Fresh quantities of water
are from time to time poured on to the pulp until the matter that remains in
the sieve is no longer sticky to the fingers, and has the appearance of washed
bran. In this state it may be employed as food for cattle, or for the manu-
facture of paper. The fecula contained in the mucilaginous water is deposited
at the bottom of the vessel, from whence it may be taken and washed several
times in pure water, and ultimately is placed upon and passed through a silk
sieve, upon which is deposited a considerable quantity of very fine pulp.
When the fecula is precipitated, it is placed upon a stove, and when dry is
passed through a fine silk sieve. In the supernatant mucilaginous liquor is
poured a small quantity of yeast, which will induce an alcoholic fermentation.
After a few hours the liquor will become clear, and give off a vinous odor,
when it may be used for distillation, or for making vinegar. At the bottom
of the vessel after fermentation will be found a considerable quantity of yeast
resembling in appearance and quality German or Dutch yeast.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Romain Ignace Charles Dubus in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd May 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROMAIN
IGNACE CHARLES DUBUS, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Merchant,
send greeting...
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of November, in the year. of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Romain Ignace Charles Dubus, Her special license, that I, the said
Romain Ignace Charles Dubus, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I; the said Romain Ignace Charles Dubus, 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,

page_text: 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 METHOD OF TREATING CERTAIN PLANTS OR VEGETABLE
SUBSTANCES IN ORDER TO EXTRACT FROM THE SAME, FIRST, A KIND OF FECULA OR
FARINA, PROPER BOTH FOR ALIMENTARY AND FINISHING OR STARCHING PURPOSES;
SECOND, AN ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR; AND, THIRD, A NATURAL FERMENT OR YEAST," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Romain Ignace Charles Dubus,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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, within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Romain Ignace Charles Dubus,, do
hereby declare. the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):--
The plants or vegetable substances which I propose to use for the purposes
of my Invention are the bulbs of the lily tribe, and in carrying out my
Invention I prefer to use the bulbs of that kind of lily known as the Turk's
cap lily, as it has been found by experience to yield better results than some-
other bulbs of the same class.
Pe:
biz
The principal features of the process, whereby I am enabled to obtain the
useful substances above referred to, may be briefly described as follows:-
After having cleaned the bulbs from dirt by washing, and having removed the
fibrous roots from the bulbs, the latter are to be mashed in a mortar so as to
reduce them to a mucilaginous pulp, upon which must be poured a quantity of
rain water, at a temperature of about seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. After
steeping the pulp, it is placed upon a hair sieve, and the glutinous water that
runs away is to be collected. Freshe quantities of water are from time to
time poured on to the pulp, until the matter that remains on the sieve will no
longer stick to the fingers, and has "the appearance of washed bran. In this
state it may be employed as food for cattle, or for the manufacture of paper.
The fecula contained in the mucilaginous water is deposited at the bottom of
the vessel, from whence it may be taken and washed several times in pure
water, and it is ultimately to be placed upon and passed through a silk sieve,
upon which will be deposited a considerable quantity of very fine pulp. When
the fecula, which is now very white,' is precipitated and drained, it is placed
upon a stove, and when perfectly dry is passed through a fine silk sieve. The
fecula thus obtained will be found to be in the proportion of from eighteen to

page_text: twenty-two per cent. by weight of the bulbs operated upon, or. rather more.
than five per cent: more than the quantity, obtained from a similar weight of
potatoes Into the supernatant mucilaginous liquor.is poured a small quantity
of yeast, which will induce: alcoholic fermentation After about twenty-four
hours the liquor will become clear, and give offza vinous odor when it may be
used for distillation, or for making vinegar by the ordinary processes. At the
bottom of. Ithe vessel after fermentation will be found a considerable quantity:
of yeast, resembling in appearance and quality German or Dutch yeast. Or
by drying the bulbs in a stove, and then grinding, and sifting or bolting, the
meal flour may be obtained suitable for making bread; although somewhat
brówn in appearance.
I
These roots may be cultivated with great facility and economy, and in any
kind. of soil, however light or sandy, or whatever may be the aspect. They
may also be always grown upon the same ground, the young bulbs which have
flowered being gathered for use, they being the most productive. i at
Having now described my Invention of a method of treating certain plants
or vegetable substances, in order to extract from the same various, useful
products, and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,>
I would observe, in conclusion, that I claim as the Invention or discovery:
secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid the application of. bulbs or roots>
of the lily tribe, to the manufacture or production of the useful articles. or
products herein set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I; the said Romain Ignace Charles Dubus, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-sixth day of April, in' the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
CDUDUS