IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Germain Adolphe Thibierge, of Versailles (France),
Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING ANIMAL
OR VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 3rd November 1868, and dated the 24th July 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Germain Adolphe
Thibierge at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 24th July 1868.
I, GERMAIN ADOLPHE THIBIERGE, of Versailles (France), Chemist, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PRESERVING ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
This improved method of preserving animal and vegetable substances
consists in the preparation of a preserving solution or liquid, and in
submitting the animal and vegetable substances to be preserved to the
processes hereafter described.
The preserving solution or liquid is prepared in the following
manner-To one thousand parts by weight of filtered water, more or

page_text: less, I carefully add one hundred parts by weight of sulphuric acid
free from arsenic at 66°. In cases where sulphuric acid cannot be
conveniently used any other acid or soluble caustic will produce the
desired effect, provided they are not of a nature to communicate any
disagreeable odour or taste or other injurious property to the substance
to be preserved. When the preserving solution or liquid has been
prepared in the manner described the animal or vegetable organic
matter to be preserved is immersed therein. It is allowed to remain
in the liquid for about five minutes at a temperature of about 60° to
80° Fahrenheit, when it is removed. If the temperature is lower than
60° the time of immersion must be lengthened in the same proportion
as the temperature is lower. The animal or vegetable substance is then
submitted to a methodical washing in filtered water, and if possible
the water is purified with charcoal. The washing is accomplished more
rapidly when a current of the water is used. Care should be taken in
the washing as in the other operations to prevent tearing the surfaces
of the substances which have been submitted to the action of the
preserving liquid. The washing is stopped when the surfaces of the
animal or vegetable matter are no longer impregnated with the pre-
serving substance.
The next operation is intended to rapidly and effectually remove
all damp from the surface of the substance to be preserved which
would prevent its preservation; a current of air or non-deleterious gas
performs this operation effectually. If the air or gas is dry, and the
temperature above 60°, the drying of the surfaces is very rapid, but if
the air or gas is more or less cold or damp it takes more time. It
is safer however to conduct this operation rapidly.
The substances prepared according to the process described may be
preserved for any period on the single condition that the air is allowed to
circulate freely. If pieces of meat or other animal matters are enclosed
they rapidly become covered with mould, which is rapidly followed by
animalculæ, producing putrefaction. When it is desired to transport
the substances from one place to another they should not be placed
in cases entirely closed, the air should circulate freely, and care should
be taken to preserve them from jolts, which by bruising or cutting
the protecting surfaces would expose new and unprepared surfaces to
the action of the air. When fresh surfaces are intentionally or un-
intentionally exposed to the air the preservation of the cut piece can

page_text: always be assured by at once submitting the fresh surfaces to the
operations above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Germain Adolphe Thibierge in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 4th November 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GERMAIN
ADOLPHE THIBIERGE, of Versailles (France), Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Germain Adolphe Thibierge, Her special
licence that I, the said Germain Adolphe Thibierge, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Germain
Adolphe Thibierge, 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 PRESERVING ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Germain Adolphe
Thibierge, 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 within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Germain Adolphe Thibierge, 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 thereof, that is to say :-
My improvements in preserving animal and vegetable substances
consist in the preparation of a preserving solution or liquid and in
submitting the animal and vegetable substances to be preserved to.
the processes hereafter described.

page_text: The preserving solution or liquid is prepared in the following
manner: In one thousand parts of filtered water, more or less, I care-
fully mix one hundred parts of non-arsenical sulphuric acid at 66°.
In cases where sulphuric acid cannot be conveniently used any other
acid or soluble caustic will produce the desired effect, provided it is not
of a nature to communicate any disagreeable odour or taste, or other
injurious property to the substance to be preserved. When the pre-
serving solution or liquid has been prepared in the manner described
the animal or vegetable organic matter to be preserved is immersed
therein. It is allowed to remain in the liquid for about five minutes
at a temperature of about 60° to 80° Fahrenheit, when it is removed.
If the temperature is lower than 60° the time of immersion must
be lengthened in the same proportion as the temperature is lower.
The animal or vegetable substance is then submitted to a methodical
washing in filtered water, and if possible the water is purified with
charcoal. The washing is accomplished more rapidly when a current
of water is used. Care should be taken in the washing, as in the other
operations, to prevent tearing the surfaces of the substances which have
been submitted to the action of the preserving liquid. The washing is
stopped when the surfaces of the animal or vegetable matter are no
longer impregnated with the preserving substance.
The next operation is intended to rapidly and effectually remove
all damp from the surfaces of the substance to be preserved which
would prevent its preservation; a current of air or non-deleterious gas
performs this operation effectually. If the air or gas is dry and its
temperature above 60° the drying of the surfaces is very rapid, but if
the air or gas is more or less cold or damp it takes more time. It is
safer however to conduct this operation rapidly.
The substances prepared according to the process described may be
preserved for any period on the single condition that the air is allowed
to circulate freely. If pieces of meat or other animal matters are enclosed
they rapidly become covered with mould, which is rapidly followed by
animalculæ, producing putrefaction. When it is desired to transport the
substances from one place to another they should not be placed in cases
entirely closed, the air should circulate freely, and care should be taken
to preserve them from jolts, which by bruising or cutting the protected
surfaces would expose new and unprepared surfaces to the action of the
air. When by cutting or otherwise fresh surfaces are intentionally or

page_text: unintentionally exposed to the air the preservation of the cut piece
can always be assured by at once submitting the fresh surfaces to the
operations above described.
The important features in my Invention are, the treatment of the
substances to be preserved by water sharpened by or having mixed
therewith sulphuric acid or any other non-injurious acid or caustic;
the washing after the said treatment; the superficial drying after the
washing; the storing and moving from place to place with free cir-
culation of air; the preservation of cut meats or pieces by applying the
process before described to the freshly exposed surfaces.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,
preserving animal and vegetable substances, substantially by the means
and in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Germain Adolphe Thibierge, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.