IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE PRESERVATION OF ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATTER
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Townsend, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Manufacturing Chemist, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO THE PRESERVATION OF ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE
MATTER
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Townsend at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd December 1882.
JOSEPH TOWNSEND, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Manufacturing Chemist, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE PRESERVATION
OF ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATTER"
This Invention has for its object the manufacture and application of improved
compounds or mixtures for preserving animal and vegetable matter.
One improved preservative compound is formed by mixing or combining boracic
acid and potash, suitable proportions being 100 parts by weight of crystallised
boracic acid and 15 parts of caustic potash or 18+ parts of carbonate of potash.
A second improved preservative compound is formed by mixing or combining
100 parts of crystallised boracic acid, 14+ parts of carbonate of soda and 20 parts of
chloride of potassium.
A third improved preservative compound is formed by mixing or combining
100 parts of crystallised boracic acid, 77 parts of borax, and 30 parts of chloride of
potassium.
The proportions named are preferred but may be varied within moderate limits.
The ingredients are by preference combined or mixed by grinding or in a finely
ground state.
For preserving fowls, beef, mutton, lamb, veal, fish, or other meat the powder can
be dredged or dusted over the external surface, or the powder or mixture of
ingredients can be dissolved and be applied by dipping the meat in the solution.
Eggs are by preference steeped in the solution. For preserving milk and cream
ounce of the powder is to be dissolved in each gallon. For preserving butter
ounce of the powder is to be worked into every seven pounds of the butter after

page_text: it has been cleansed. For preserving vegetable matter the compound or mixture
may be applied either in solution or in the powdered form.
In some cases in preserving meat, the meat is by preference subjected to the
action of a vacuum so as to exhaust air from internal parts, and a solution of the
preservative compound is then allowed to penetrate with any suitable pressure.
In other cases the meat is enclosed in cotton or other suitable cloth which is
saturated with the preservative solution or has the powder dusted over it.
In one improved mode of preserving eggs, and applicable to other animal or
vegetable matter, sawdust, or cotton wool, or other suitable absorbent, is saturated
with the preservative solution and dried, and the eggs or other articles are packed
with the prepared sawdust or other material or are placed in or covered by it.
When the preservative powder is used as an external application in cases where
it is likely to become very dry or to become detached a small proportion of chloride
of magnesium is combined with it. This ingredient not only keeps the powder
sufficiently damp but also promotes its preservative action.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Townsend in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd June 1883.
JOSEPH TOWNSEND, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Manufacturing Chemist "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE PRESERVATION
OF ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATTER "
My said Invention has for its object the manufacture and application of improved
compounds or mixtures for preserving animal and vegetable matter.
One of my improved preservative compounds is formed by mixing or combining
boracic acid and potash, suitable proportions being 100 parts by weight of
crystallised boracic acid, and 15 parts of caustic potash or 18 parts of carbonate
of potash.
A second of my improved preservative compounds is formed by mixing or
combining 100 parts of crystallised boracic acid, 14 parts of carbonate of soda and
20 parts of chloride of potassium.
A third of my improved preservative compounds is formed by mixing or
combining 100 parts of crystallised boracic acid, 77 parts of borax, and 30 parts of
chloride of potassium
The proportions named are what I prefer but may be varied within reasonable
limits. The ingredients are by preference combined or mixed by grinding or in a
finely ground state.
For proserving fowls, beef, mutton, lamb, veal, fish or other meat the powder
can be dredged or dusted over the external surface, or the powder or mixture of
ingredients can be dissolved and be applied by dipping the meat in the solution.
Eggs are by preference steeped in the solution. For preserving milk and cream
the powder is by preference dissolved in a small quantity of water and the solution
is thoroughly mixed with the milk or cream ounce of the powder being used for
each gallon. For preserving butter ounce of the powder is to be worked into
every seven pounds of the butter after it has been cleansed. For preserving vegetable
matter the compound or mixture may be applied either in solution or in tho
powdered form.
In some cases in preserving meat, the meat is by preference subjected to the
action of a vacuum or partial vacuum so as to exhaust air from internal parts, and
a solution of the preservative compound having been admitted into the vessel
penetrates into the meat, atmospheric pressure or any suitable pressure being
employed. In other cases the meat is enclosed in cotton or other suitable cloth
which is saturated with the preservative solution or has the powder dusted
over it.
In one improved mode of preserving eggs, and applicable to other animal or
vegetable matter, sawdust, or cotton wool, or carbonaceous matter, or other suitablo
absorbent, is saturated with the preservative solution and more or less dried, and
the eggs or other articles are packed with the prepared sawdust or carbonaceous
matter or other material or are placed in or covered by it.
When the preservative powder is used as an external application in cases where
it is likely to become very dry or to become detached a small proportion of chlorido
of magnesium or chloride of calcium is combined with it. This ingredient
not only keeps the powder sufficiently damp but also promotes its preservativo
action.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise

page_text: details herein before described but that what I believe to be novel and original and
claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is
1. The preservation of animal and vegetable matters by treating them with a
mixture or combination of boracic acid and potash, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
i
2. The preservation of animal and vegetable matters by treating them with a
mixture or combination of boracic acid, carbonate of soda, and chloride of potassium
substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The preservation of animal and vegetable matters by treating them with a
mixture or.combination of boracic acid, borax, and chloride of potassium sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described.
1
4. The application of any of the preservative compounds by dredging or dusting
it in the form of powder upon the external surface of meat, as herein before
described.
5. The application of any of the preservative compounds by dissolving it and
dipping the meat into the solution with or without the previous treatment by a
vacuum to exhaust the air as herein before described.
6. The application of any of the preservative compounds to milk, cream, and
butter, by mixing the powder or a solution of it therewith as herein before
described.
7. The preparation of sawdust, cotton wool, carbonaceous matter or other suitable
absorbent with a solution of any of the preservative compounds; and the packing
or covering of eggs or other animal or vegetable matter with the prepared absorbont
material as bereinbefore described.
8. The combination of chloride of magnesium or chloride of calcium with any of
the preservative compounds when to be used in circumstances in which it is liable
to become too dry as hereinbefore described.
In Witness whereof I, the said Joseph Townsend, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this eleventh day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.