IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING ANIMAL MATTERS AND IN MANUFAC- TURING MANURE
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Webster, of Ipswich, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING ANIMAL MATTERS AND IN MANUFAC-
TURING MANURE."
Sealed the 13th April 1853, and dated the 9th February 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Webster
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th February 1853. -
I, JOHN WEBSTER, of Ipswich, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING ANIMAL MATTERS AND
IN MANUFACTURING MANURE" to be as follows:--
Heretofore, in the process of "rendering" and treating the rough
fats of animals, a considerable product is obtained from some fats
called "greaves," such rendering and treating being carried on by heat.
Now, my Invention consists of subjecting the rough fats of animals to
the action of dilute sulphuric acid, and boiling the same, by which the
animal matters other than the fats combined with the acid, and when
allowed to stand, subside, and the fatty matters may be run off and

page_text: washed, any remains of acid therein being neutralized by chalk. The
acid and animal matters are then used to dissolve bones or mineral
phosphates for making manures, in place of sulphuric acid which has
not been previously used, by which double use of the acid a great
benefit will be derived, and the rendering and treating the rough fats
of animals improved.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John-Webster in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 8th August 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN WEBSTER, of Ipswich, send greeting.
:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred' and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign; did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Webster, Her special licence
that I, the said John Webster, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Webster, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TREATING ANIMAL MATTERS AND IN MANUFACTURING MANURE," upon the
condition (amongst others) that the said John Webster, 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 J, the said John Webster, do hereby declare
the nature, of the said Invention; and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and by.
the following statement thereof (that is to say):
"
Heretofore, in the process of "rendering".
"and treating the rough
fats of animals, a considerable product is obtained from some fats
called "greaves," such rendering and treating being carried on by heat.
Now, my Invention consists of subjecting the rough fats of animals to
the action of dilute sulphuric acid, and boiling the same, by which the
animal matters, other than the fats combine with the acid, and, when
allowed, to stand, subside, and the fatty matters may be run off and
washed, any remains of acid therein being neutralized by chalk. The
acid, and animal matters are then used to dissolve bones or mineral
phosphates for making manures, in place of sulphuric acid which has
not been previously used, by which double use of the acid a great
benefit will be derived, and the rendering and treating the rough fats of
animals improved..
And in order that the Invention may be more fully understood, I
will proceed to describe the means pursued by me. To separate and
purify the tallow from rough fat, kitchen stuff, whale blubber, or any
other fatty animal matter, I take at the rate of 30 lbs. of ordinary
commercial sulphuric acid (of specific gravity 1,80), and add to this
eight gallons of water, and immerse in the solution 168 lbs. of the
rough fat or matters above mentioned; and I boil these matters by the
aid of streams of hot air forced into it, or by an ordinary fire, till the
tissues are entirely broken up. The matters are then allowed to stand,
and, when settled, the tallow may be drawn off and washed with hot
water till the acid is removed, adding 1 lb. of chalk just before the wash-
ing process is completed. The acid liquor may now be used again in
operating upon a like quantity of rough fatty matter, until the tissues
held in suspension in it affect the color of the tallow produced.
The liquid is now to be used for the manufacture of manure, by
combining the same with bones or mineral phosphates in like manner
to that now practised with sulphuric acid, by which means the animal
matter taken from the fats by the acid is rendered useful, and the
acid also.
I would here remark that I am aware that sulphuric acid has before

page_text: been used for obtaining tallow and purifying oils by acting on rough
fatty and oily matters; I do not, therefore, claim the same generally.
And I would state that the use of sulphuric acid for such purposes has
heretofore been more costly than when working according to my Inven-
tion, by reason of the animal matter being wasted, and also by reason
of the acid being diluted by the use of free steam in boiling the fatty
matters and acid; whereas, by my Invention, I avoid the use of free
steam, and use the diluted acid of such a strength as to admit of its
being employed on several quantities of fatty or oily matters, and then,
together with the animal matters separated by the acid, the acid is
beneficially used in acting on bones and mineral phosphates in the pro-
duction of manure.
In witness whercof, I, the said John Webster, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JOHN WEBSTER. (L.S.)
Witness, S. CARPMAEL.