AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE PACKING AND PRESERVATION OF MEAT AND OTHER ANIMAL FOOD
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Edward Vaughan, of 67, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
PROCESS FOR THE PACKING AND PRESERVATION OF MEAT AND OTHER ANIMAL
FOOD." A communication from abroad by Archibald Liversidge, of Sydney,
in the Colony of New South Wales, Professor of Geology and Mineralogy in
the University of Sydney, in that City.
Sealed the 18th November 1879, and dated the 4th September 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Edward Vaughan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th September 1879.
GEORGE EDWARD VAUGHAN, of 67, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE PACKING AND PRESERVATION of
MEAT AND OTHER ANIMAL FOOD." A communication from abroad by Archibald
Liversidge, of Sydney, in the Colony of New South Wales, Professor of Geology
and Mineralogy in the University of Sydney, in that City.
This Invention consists in the use of an envelope or covering for meat and other
animal food, composed of vegetable parcliment or of gelatine rendered insoluble in
water by treatment with bichromate of potassium or other suitable means in place
of the tinned iron cylinders, canisters, or other receptacles commonly used for the
packing and preservation of meat and usually known as "tins."
The meat or other animal food compressed or uncompressed is placed in the
envelope of vegetable parchment, or of insoluble gelatine, either in the cooked or
the uncooked state; but in the case of roasted or baked meat, it is placed in
the envelope after roasting or baking as the case may necessitate.
The advantages claimed for this Invention are,—
1. This method is cheaper and more expeditious than the usual process of
soldering the meat up in tins, while the meat or other animal food is equally well
protected from the air, and all tendency to putrify or become unwholesome..
2. The meat thus packed in vegetable parchment or insoluble gelatine can be
roasted, corned, spiced, flavored, or otherwise prepared equally well as when "tins "
are employed.
3. By this process there is not the same liability to overcook.
4. The envelope or covering is quite innocuous, and moreover its use avoids the

page_text: .
dangers attendant upon the employment of solders, and of impure tin containing
lead or other poisonous metals.
5. The meat preserved according to this Invention is in a packing more con-
venient to the producer, inasmuch as the envelopes or covers can be made of any
size and of any proportions; hence, the meat, fish, poultry, game, or other food
need not be cut up, or its appearance otherwise destroyed in order to transfer it
to a receptacle of fixed proportions, and made of rigid material, as is sometimes
the case where metal cylinders are employed, at the same time this Invention is
equally well adapted for the packing and preservation of meat, which has been
minced or otherwise divided into small pieces.
6. The envelope can be made of any requisite length, strength, or substance,
and either with or without a longitudinal seam, that is to say, it can be made in
tubes of any dimensions, and without joint, seam, or line of junction along their
length. The openings at the ends can be closed by ordinary methods and either
under ordinary conditions, or in a vacuum, or in an atmosphere of any gas as may
be thought desirable.
7. The meat is by this process placed in a packing more convenient to the
consumer, since it can be put up in quantities of any amount, larger or smaller,
according to the requirements of the market or trade. The envelope or covering
costs so little that packages of meat of say only one or two, ounces in weight
can be economically supplied.
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8. No instrument beyond an ordinary table or other knife is required to open
the envelope or covering, which can be either stripped off or cut through in
annular strips with the slices of meat as it is consumed.
9. The flexibility and compressibility of the above described envelopes permit of
great saving of space in packing for shipment or transport.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention, and
the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what
is considered novel and original, and therefore claimed is,-
The improved process for the packing and preservation of meat and other animal
food, compressed or uncompressed, cooked or uncooked, by encasing or surrounding
the same with an envelope or covering of vegetable parchment, or of insoluble
gelatine, substantially as herein before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Edward Vaughan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
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