IM- PROVEMENTS IN PRINTING OR DYEING WOVEN OR TEXTILE FABRICE, AND IN THE MANUFACTURING OF CERTAIN SUBSTANCES TO BE USED IN THE ARTS OR PROCESSES OF DYEING AND PRINTING
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Higgin, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Manufacturing Chemist, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN PRINTING OR DYEING WOVEN OR TEXTILE FABRICE,
AND IN THE MANUFACTURING OF CERTAIN SUBSTANCES TO BE USED IN
THE ARTS OR PROCESSES OF DYEING AND PRINTING."
Sealed the 5th August 1858, and dated the 14th May 185%.
PROVISIONAL -SPECIFICATION left by the said James Higgin at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th May 1853.
I, JAMES HIGGIN, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING OR DYEING WOVEN OR TEXTILE FABRICS,
AND IN THE MANUFACTURING OF CERTAIN SUBSTANCES TO BE USED IN THE
ARTS OR PROCESSES OF DYEING AND PRINTING," to be as follows:-
Instead of using pure silica or the silicates usually used in dyeing or
printing woven or other fabrics, I propose to manufacture silicates
from the alcaline earths or oxides of various substances converted

page_text: in the usual manner by combining metals or other substances with
oxygen.
I then intend to take bones of any description, grind them,
and while they are in their natural state that is, not otherwise treated
beyond grinding) to add thereto a small proportion or quantity of
arsenic or other mineral acid; and this preparation I propose to employ
during the operation of dyeing or printing woven, textile, or other
fabrics. The exact quantity of mineral acid to be used with the bones
can only be ascertained by practice; and it will vary in a small degree
according to the colors used in dyeing and printing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 1
filed by the said James Higgin in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 14th November 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
JAMES HIGGIN, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Manufac-
turing Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Higgin, Her especial
licence that. I, the said James Higgin, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as 1, the said James Higgin, my execu-
tors, 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 of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PRINTING OR DYEING WOVEN OR TEXTILE FABRICS, AND IN THE
MANUFACTURING OF CERTAIN SUBSTANCES TO BE USED IN THE ARTS OR PRO-
CESSES OF DYEING AND PAINTING, upon the condition (amongst others)

page_text: that I, the said James Higgin, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
scal, 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 Royal Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Higgin, 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 Invention consists in the substitution of sclicates of the alkaline
earths diffused in water for cow-dung in that operation in calico printing
termed "dunging." It was discovered by Mr. Mercer, of Oakenshaw, in
the County of Lancaster, that the introduction of silica into mordants, so
as to produce silicate of iron, or silicate of alumina, was of great benefit
to the dyed color, for which discovery he obtained Royal Letters Patent.
dated the Twenty-second day of June, One thousand eight hundred
and forty-six, in the Specification of which he describes a method of so
preparing calico that when the ordinary mordants were applied the
silica in the calico seized the bases of the mordants and fornied silicates
of those bases. This method has certain inconveniences, and in October,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, a Mr. Herm Jäger obtained
Her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent for another method of obtaining
silicated mordants on cloth by substituting a solution of silicate of an
alkali for cow-dung in the dunging operation, whereby a precipitation
of silicates of iron or alumina took place in the fibre. From the alka-
line reaction of the silicated alkali it has been found that the process is
not always to be depended upon, and that the alkali is very apt to dis-
solve some of the alumina in the red and chocolate mordants. To meet
and obviate this objection I now propose to use a silicate of an alkaline
earth, lime by prefercrice, which, being formed by precipitation of the
silica.in combination with the alkaline earth, is not open to the objec-
tion of being a solution capable of dissolving the alumina of the red
mordants. The following is the method I employ-I fuse in a rever-

page_text: beratory furnace a mixture of sand and soda ash, or carbonate of soda,
in such proportions that the resulting glassy substance is as nearly as.
possible a combination of two equivalents of silica 'and one of soda. .I
then dissolve this substance, and bring the solution to a certain density,
say fifty degrees,. in Twaddell's Hydrometer: On the other hand, I
make a solution of muriate of lime in any convenient manner, and set
at fifty degrees, Twaddell having by analysis found the quantity of
silicate of soda and the quantity of muriate of lime in a gallon of cach
of the liquids. I form a dunging bath by adding to the hot water in
the dunging cistern the two solutions, in such proportions as that there
shall be 'a slight excess of muriate of lime in solution. By the double
decomposition which ensues there is formed bisilicate of lime, which
separates as a precipitate, and muriate of soda remains in solution:
The goods are passed through this mixture in the usual manner, and at's
the usual heats, and afterwards treated just as if they had been dunged
with cow-dung. The proportions I have found useful are six hundred
gallons of water and one gallon of each of the solutions, generally
putting. muriate of lime in the water first; but the proportions will
vary according to the pattern of the printed goods, observing only
always to add the two liquids in such proportions that there shall be no s
silicate of soda or potash in solution.. Where there is a use for caustic
soda, the silicate of lime may be conveniently and cheaply formed by:
adding slaked lime in fine powder to a solution of silicate of soda, stir-.
ring it. well: The lime unites with the silica, and caustic soda remains
in solution. When settled and clear, the soda. is run off, and the
silicate of lime washed free from soda. In this state it can be used
in dunging, by adding. it to the dunging cistern in any convenient"
proportions.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of my
said Invention, I. desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not
claim the preparation of silicate of soda, nor do I confine myself to the
particular silicate of lime, herein described, as it may be possible to form :
silicates of the alkaline earths in a variety of ways without departing.
from the principle of.my. Invention; but what I claim is: The use of:

page_text: a silicate of an alkaline earth diffused in water in place of cow-dung
in the dunging operation, as herein described.
In witness whereof, 1, the said James Higgin, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of November, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named James Higgin in the
presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
JAMES HIGGIN. (L.S.)
Patent Agent,
Manchester.