AMENDED DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION.
Year: 1854

page_text: POLSON'S AMENDED DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM
OF ALTERATION.
2
[The words inserted in Italics are in red ink in Original.]
Filed 5th March 1861.."
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, Í, JOHN
POLSON, of the Firm of Brown and Polson, of Paisley, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Starch Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand-eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Polson, Her special license that I, the said John Polson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jolin
Polson, my executors, administrators, or 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 THE MANU:
FACTURE OF STARCH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John, Polson, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent: And whereas I, the said
AL:
GD 71

page_text: John Polson, in pursuance of the said condition in the said Letters Patent
contained, did by a Specification, being an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and did cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within the time in that
behalf prescribed by the said proviso: And whereas, since the filing of my
said Specification, I have been advised that certain of the improvements in the
said Specification described and claimed as comprehended in my said Inven-
tion were not new at the date of the said Letters Patent, for which reasons I
desire to disclaim some parts of the said Specification, and to alter some other
parts thereof, in order that it may be properly understood after such dis-
claimed parts are struck out.
65
"
NOW KNOW YE, THEREFORE that I, John Polson, by and with the
leave of Her Majesty's Solicitor-General, and for the reasons aforesaid, do
hereby disclaim the specific or separate systems or modes described in my said
Specification as being separate or apart from the use or application of such
systems or modes to form the general combination of process comprised in the
said Specification and the claims therein contained, as herein-after altered.
And for the reasons aforesaid, and with the leave aforesaid, I disclaim the
words, "more particularly;" I also disclaim the words, "and from rice; "I
also disclaim the words, "or rice;" I also disclaim the words, "the husk and
fibrous matters separated by the sieving process may be passed a second
"timé through the levigating machine and through the sieves, for the purpose
"of extracting a further quantity of starchy matter;" Ialso disclaim the word
any," in the place of which I insert the word "either;" I also disclaim the
word "three," in the place of which I insert the word "two;" I also disclaim
the words, "according to the third process, referred to for the final treatment
of the starch, the alkali process is adopted as in the second process, but the
foreign matters which remain after the alkali treatment of the starchy
"matter or starch may be separated by mixing it with water in a depositing
frame, when the foreign matters will be found to descend to the bottom of
the mass, and the pure starch may be drawn off by means of a syphon or
"tap.
I would here remark that the various processes herein-before
described, or some of them, are applicable to the preparation of starch
from other farinaceous substances besides maize and rice, the process being
" modified to suit the various substances treated by them;" I also disclaim
the words, "I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details or
arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many
"variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the principles or
66
14
"
"

page_text: "main features of my Invention, but" I also disclaim the word "First; " I
also disclaim the words, "and rice; "I also disclaim the words, "Second,
"the system or mode of obtaining starch from maize and rice, wherein the
grain after being steeped in water is reduced to a pulp, from which the
husks, gluten, and other foreign matters are separated by means of a sieving
"apparatus and a depositing plane, and in a state fit for feeding cattle, so as
by their sale to diminish the cost of production of the starch, as herein-
"before described."
66
"
"Third, the system or mode of separating the gluten and other foreign
"matters from the starchy matter obtained from maize and rice by causing
"this matter to flow over a depositing plane, which is either level or slightly
inclined, the starch being deposited on such plane whilst the gluten and
"other matters flow off, as herein-before described."
66
"Fourth, the system or mode of treating the starchy matter obtained from
"maize and rice, wherein after the matter has been submitted to the alkali
"and seieving processes, any residuary gluten or foreign matter is separated
"from it by causing it to flow over a level or inclined depositing plane, in the
manner herein-before described."
And in order that it may be clearly and exactly understood what are the
particular improvements I now consider to be secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, I shall proceed to repeat (omitting
preamble and testing clause) my said Specification as proposed to be amended
by this present Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration, as follows:-
My said Invention relates more particularly to the production or manufacture
of starch from maize or Indian corn and-from-riee; in such manner as to secure
economy in the cost of production and superiority in the quality of the manu-
factured article. In preparing maize er-riee starch according to my Inven-
tion, the grain, which may be either whole or coarsely ground or bruised, is
steeped in water for a few days until it is thoroughly soaked; it may be
allowed to ferment thereafter with the view of thereby facilitating the sub-
sequent processes, but the fermentation is not essential to these processes,
and I prefer to omit it, and proceed at once to bruise or reduce the soaked
grain to a pulp by means of a levigating machine. This pulp is mixed with
water, and the husks and fibrous matters are separated by means of a sieve
or sieves made of fine silk gauze or other suitable material; the sieves may be
constructed like the bolting machines used in flour mills, or they may be in
the form of flat frame sieves, either kind being driven in connexion with the
general machinery of the establishment. The husks-and fibrous-matters-separated
by-the-sieving-process-may-be-passed-a-second-time through the levigating machine

page_text: and through-the-sieves-for-the--purpose of extracting a farther quantity of starchy
matter. The husks and fibrous matters may then be dried and ground, in
which state they are very suitable for feeding cattle, as they retain their natural
properties unaltered, not having been subjected to the action of any chemical
agent, and consequently their sale for the purpose of feeding cattle constitutes
a source of considerable economy in the manufacture of starch. The starchy
matter separated by the sieving process contains a portion of gluten and other
matters, which cannotbeeffectually separated by the processes usually adoptedin
the manufacture of wheaten starch; according to my present Invention, how-
ever, this maybe effected by the employment of any either of three twoprocesses,
which I shall proceed to describe. According to the first of these processes the
starchy matter as it leaves the seiving apparatus is made to flow over a plane sur-
face which may be either level or slightly inclined, the width of the plane and
the amount of the starch flow being so proportioned as to cause the latter to
spread out uniformly in a thin stream covering the entire surface. The water and
gluten with the other foreign matters pass off at a further extremity of the
depositing plane, leaving the starch deposited over the entire surface. As the
deposit of starch does not take place equally at all parts of the depositing
plane, but becomes less towards the extremity at which the water and gluten
pass off and as this inequality disturbs the process of deposition and separation,
provision is made for securing a uniform inclination during the entire process
by gradually damming up the flow by means of a series of weirs placed across
the depositing plane at suitable intervals. These weirs are formed of slips of
wood, which are placed one above another from time to time as the deposit
increases, and they are made water-tight by means of pieces of cloth of the
width of the depositing plane, and fastened down to the plane by one edge,
whilst the other edge is folded over the front of the slips of wood forming the
weir, and made to stream over the top of them in the direction of the current.
The starch thus obtained is washed with water, and dried in the usual manner,
and though it is not absolutely free from foreign matters, it is strong and of
good color, and is very suitable for some manufacturing purposes. The gluten
and other matters which have passed off with the water at the end ofthe depo-
siting plane may be mixed with the husks and fibrous matters previously
separated by the sieving process, thereby considerably increasing the value of
these matters as food for cattle, and consequently reducing the cost of the
starch ; or the gluten and other matters which pass off at the end of the
depositing plane may be submitted to the alkali and other processes herein-
after to be described, for the purpose of extracting any portion of starch which
may not have been separated by deposition... According to the second of the

page_text: processes referred to for the further treatment of the starchy matter as
obtained by the sieving process, the starchy matter is submitted to the well;.
known alkali process as employed in the production of rice starch, and after
the gluten has been dissolved and run off with the various washings which are
given to that process, as the starch still contains a portion of fibrous or other
matters, it may or may not be again put through a sieve, being afterwards
made to flow over the depositing plane in the manner which I have herein-
before described, so as to separate these foreign matters which flow off with
the water, leaving pure starch deposited over the entire surface of the
plane. The starch is then submitted to one or more washings with water,
to which a little acid may be added for the purpose of taking away any
alkali that may be present, and the starch is finally dried in the usual
manner. The starchy matter may be submitted to this second process in the
state in which it is left by the herein-before first-mentioned depositing process,
that is to say, the starchy matter as left deposited upon the depositing plane
may be treated by the usual alkali process, and then again passed over the
depositing plane for the production of starch in a state of superior purity.
According-to-the-third-process-referred-to-for-the-final-treatment-of-the-starch, the
alkali-process-is-adopted-as-in-the-second-process, but the foreign-matters-which
remain-after-the-alkali-treatment-of-the-starely-matter, or stareh-may-be-separated
by-mixing-it-with-water-in-a--depositing-frame, when--the-foreign--matters will be
found-to-deseend to the-bottom-of-the-mass, and--the-pure-starch-may-be-drawn-off
by means of a syphon--or tap. I--would-here--remark--that-the-various-processes
herein-before-described, or some of them, are-applicable-to-the-preparation-of-stareh
from-other--farinaceous--substanees--besides--maize and--rice, the--process--being
modified-to-suit-the-various-substances treated by-them.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe in conclusion, that Ido-not-confine-or-restrict
myself-to-the-precise-details-or-arrangements which I have had occasion-to-describe
or refer to, as many-variations-may-be-made-therefrom without deviating-from-the
principles-or-main-features-of my Invention, but what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general combination of process to be adopted in the manufacture
of starch from maize or Indian corn and-riee, as herein-before described.
Second, the system-or--mode-of-obtaining starch--from-maize--and-rice,-wherein
the-grain,-after-being-steeped-in-water-is-redneed-to-a-pulp,-from-which-the-husks,
gluten, and--other-foreign--matters-are-separated-by-means-of-a-sieving-apparatus

page_text: and-a-depositing--plane;-and-in-a-state-fit-for-feeding-eattle,-so-as--by-their-sale
to-diminish-the-cost-of-production-of-the-staral;-as-herein-before-described.
Third, the-system-or-mode--of-separating the gluten-and-other-foreign--matters
from-the-starchy-matter-obtained--from-maize-and-riea,-by-causing this--matter--tə
flow-over-a depositing plane--which--is
being-deposited--on-such-plane whilst the--gluten---and other-matters-Aow-off,-as
Herein-before-described.
either-level--or-slightly-inclined;-the-starch
Fourth-the-system-or-mode-of--trenting-the-starchy matter obtained-from-maize
and-rice, wherein, after the matter has been submitted to the alkali and--sieving
processes;-any-residuary-gluten-or-foreign-matter-is-separated-from-it-by-enusing.it
to-low-over--a-level--o--inalind-depositing plane-in-the-manaar herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Polson, have hereunto set my
hand and séal, the First day of March, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-one.
JOHN POLSON. (L.s.)
To the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.
I hereby grant my fiat giving leave to the above-mentioned John Polson
to file in the Great Seal Patent Office, with the Specification to which the
same relates, the above-written Amended Disclaimer and Memorandum of
Alteration.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Polson, of the firm. of Brown and Polson, of
Paisley, in the County of Renfrew; North Britain, Starch Manufacturer,
Lathe Tanation of 11 TMPROVEMENTS IN MANTRACTURE OF STAR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Polson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st March
1854.
I, JOHN POLSON, of the firm of Brown and Polson, of Paisley, in the
County of Renfrew, North Britain, Starch Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
STARCH" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the production or manufacturè of starch from
maize or Indian corn and from rice in such manner as to secure economy in
the cost of production and superiority in the quality of the manufactured article..
In preparing maize or rice starch in this way the grain is first ground or
bruised,and is then steeped in water, and it may be allowed to ferment there-
after, which facilitates the subsequent processes, but is not essential to them."
It is then bruised into a pulp by being made to pass. several times through a
levigating machine. The pulp is then mixed with water, and the husk and

page_text: fibrous matter are separated by means of sieves, made of fine silk gauze or
other material: The sieves may be constructed like the bolting machine of a
flour mill, or in the form of flat frame sieves; in either case the sieving
apparatus is worked by the general movement of the working machinery.
The husk and fibrous matters which have been separated by these means
are again passed through the levigating und sieving machines for the purpose.
of extracting a further quantity of starchy matter; the husk and fibrous
matter are then dried and ground, and are very suitable for feeding cattle, as
they retain their natural properties unaltered by not having been subjected to
the action of any chemicalagent. The starching matter thus obtained contains
a portion of gluten and other matters besides starch, which cannot be sepa-
rated. by the usual methods adopted in the manufacture of wheaten starch.
By this Invention three different methods may be adopted for separating
the gluten and other foreign matters from the starchy matter:-First, the
starchy matter as it leaves the sieving machine is made to flow along a
very slightly inclined plane. The amount of the starchy flow is accurately
proportioned to the width of the incline plane. The water, gluten, and
other foreign matters flow off at the lower end, leaving the starch deposited
over the whole area of the inclined plane. As the deposit of starch does not
take place equally at all parts of the inclined plane, becoming less towards the
lower end, and as this inequality of the deposit disturbs the process of depo-
sition and separation, provision is made for maintaining a uniform ratio of
incline during the whole process by gradually damming up the flow at suitable
distances along the incline by means of a series of weirs. These weirs are
formed by graduated slips of wood, added from time to time as the deposit
increases, by a cloth adapted for the reception of them, by being fixed at an
end to the bottom of the inclined plane; the other end being made to stream
over them sieves the purpose of making them water-tight. By this means
also the depth of flow of the starchy matter over the surface of the starch
deposit can be accurately adjusted from time to time, and upon the accuracy
of this part of the process depends, to a considerable extent, the purity of the
starch deposit. Or, second, the starchy matter, as it is obtained after the sieving
process already described, is subjected to the well-known alkali process as
applied for the production of rice starch, and after the gluten has been dis-
solved and run off with the various matters which are used in that process
the starchy matter, which still contains a portion of foreign matters, is mixed
with water, and made to flow down the inclined plane in the manner described.
The foreign matters flow off with the water at the end of the inclined plane,

page_text: leaving the pure starch deposited over the extended area of the incline. In-
adopting this second process it is advantageous to pass the starchy matter;
after it has been treated by the alkali process, through the sieving machine
for the purpose of extracting a portion of the foreign matters. before
passing the starchy matter along the inclined plane. Third, the separation,
after: the alkaline treatment of the starchy matter, may be accomplished
by placing the mass in a depositing frame, when the foreign matters are
found to descend to the bottom of the mass, leaving the pure starch at the
top ready for removal, by drawing off in a fluid state by a siphon or stop
cock.
In drying the masses or blocks of starch they are placed or wrapped in
folds of bibulous paper instead of in common sized paper, and in this folded
state.the blocks are either sent out for use in the same paper, over-wrapped
with a stronger covering, or they are uncovered and re-wrapped in fresh sized
paper for sale.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Polson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
September 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN POLSON,
of the firm of Brown and Polson, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Starch Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her.
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me;
the said John Polson, Her special license that I, the said John Polson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John.
Polson, my executors, administrators, or 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 THE MANU-
FACTURE OF STARCH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Polson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said invention, and in

page_text: 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 im-
mediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Polson, 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:
My said Invention relates more particularly to the production or manufac-
ture of starch from maize or Indian corn and from rice in such manner as to
secure economy in the cost of production and superiority in the quality of
the manufactured article. In preparing maize or rice starch according to my
Invention the grain, which may be either whole or coarsely ground or bruised,
is steeped in water for a few days until it is thoroughly soaked; it may be
allowed to ferment thereafter, with the view of thereby facilitating the subse-
quent processes; but the fermentation is not essential to these processes, and I
prefer to omit it, and proceed at once to bruise or reduce the soaked grain to
a pulp by means of a levigating machine. This pulp is mixed with water,
and the husks and fibrous matters are separated by means of a sieve or sieves,
made of fine silk, gauze, or other suitable material. The sieves may be con-
structed like the bolting machines used in flour mills, or they may be in the
for m of flat frame sieves, either kind being driven in connection with the
general machinery of the establishment. The husks and fibrous matters
separated by the sieving process may be passed a second time through the
levigating machine and through the sieves for the purpose of extracting a
further quantity of starchy matter. The husks and fibrous matters may then
be dried and ground, in which state they are very suitable for feeding cattle,
as they retain their natural properties unaltered, not having been subjected to
the action of any chemical agent, and consequently their sale for the purpose
of feeding cattle constitutes a source of considerable economy in the manu-
facture of starch. The starchy matter separated by the sieving process
contains a portion of gluten and other matters, which cannot be effectually
separated by the processes usually adopted in the manufacture of wheaten
starch. According to my present Invention, however, this may be effected
by the employment. of any of three processes which I shall proceed to
describe. According to the first of these processes the starchy matter as it
leaves the sieving apparatus is made to flow over a plane surface, which may
be either level or slightly inclined, the width of the plane and the amount of
the starch flow being so proportioned as to cause the latter to spread out

page_text: uniformly in a thin stream covering the entire surface. The water and gluten
with the other foreign matters pass off at the further extremity of the depo-
siting plane, leaving the starch doposited over the entire surface. As the
deposit of starch does not take place equally at all parts of the depositing
plane, but becomes less towards the extremity, at which the water and gluten
pass off, and as this inequality disturbs the process of deposition and separa-
tion, provision is made for securing a uniform inclination during the entire
process by gradually damming up the flow by means of a series of weirs
placed across the depositing plane at suitable intervals. These weirs are
formed of slips of wood, which are placed one above another from time to time
as the deposit increases, and they are made water-tight by means of pieces of
cloth of the width of the depositing plane, and fastened down to the plane by
one edge, whilst the other edge is folded over the front of the slips of wood
forming the weir, and made to stream over the top of them in the direction of
the current. The starch thus obtained is washed with water and dried in the
usual manner; and though it is not absolutely free from foreign matters, it is
strong and of good color, and is very suitable for some manufacturing purposes.
The gluten and other matters which have passed off with the water at the end
of the depositing plane may be mixed with the husks and fibrous matters
previously separated by the sieving process, thereby considerably increasing
the value of these matters as food for cattle, and consequently reducing the
cost of the starch; or the gluten and other matters which pass off at the
end of the depositing plane may be submitted to the alkali and other pro-
cesses, herein-after to be described, for the purpose of extracting any portion
of starch which may not have been separated by deposition. According to
the second of the processes referred to for the further treatment of the starchy.
matter as obtained by the sieving process, the starchy matter is submitted to
the well-known alkali process as employed in the production of rice starch; -
and after the gluten has been dissolved and run off with the various washings
which are given to that process, as the starch still contains a portion of fibrous
or other matters, it may or may not be again put through a sieve, being after-
wards made to flow over the depositing plane in the manner which I have
herein before described, so. as to separate these foreign matters which flow
off with the water, leaving pure starch deposited over the entire surface of the "
plane. The starch is then submitted to one or more washings with water, to
which a little acid may be added, for the purpose of taking away any alkali
that may be present, and the starch is finally dried in the usual manner. The
starchy matter may be submited to this second process in the state in which

page_text: it is left by the herein-before first-mentioned depositing process; that is to say,
the starchy matter as left deposited upon the depositing plane may be treated
by the usual alkali process, and then again passed over the depositing plane, for
the production of starch in a state of superior purity. According to the third
process referred to for the final treatment of the starch, the alkali process is
adopted as in the second process, but the foreign matters which remain after
the alkali treatment of the starchy, matter or starch may be separated by
mixing it with water in a depositing frame, when the foreign matters will be
found to descend to the bottom of the mass, and the pure starch may be drawn
off by means of a syphon or tap. I would here remark, that the various
processes herein-before, described, or some of them, are applicable to the
preparation of starch from other farinaceous substances besides maize and
rice, the process being modified to suit the various substances treated by
them..
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe
or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
:
First, the general combination of process to be adopted in the manufacture
of starch from maize or Indian corn and rice, as herein-before described..
Second, the system or mode of obtaining, starch from maize and rice,
wherein the grain, after being steeped in water, is reduced to a pulp, from
which the husks.gluten, and other foreign matters are separated by means of a
sieving apparatus and a depositing plane, and in a state fit for feeding cattle,
so as by their sale to diminish the cost of production of the starch, as herein-
before described.
Third, the system or mode of separating the gluten and other foreign
matters from the starchy matter obtained from maize and rice, by causing this
matter to flow over a depositing plane, which is either level or slightly.inclined,
the starch being deposited on such plane whilst the gluten and other matters
flow off, as herein-before described.
.Fourth, the system or mode of treating the starchy matter obtained from
maize and rice, wherein, after the matter has been submitted to the alkali and
sieving processes, any residuary gluten or foreign matter is separated from it

page_text: by causing it to flow over a level or inclined depositing plane, in the manner
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Polson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twentieth day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four.
JOHN POLSON. (L.S.)