IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES FROM DECOMPOSITION OR DECAY, AND FOR THE CONVEYANCE AND TRANSPORT OF THE SAME
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Donald Nicoll, of Oaklands Hall, West End, Kilburn,
in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE
SUBSTANCES FROM DECOMPOSITION OR DECAY, AND FOR THE CONVEYANCE AND
TRANSPORT OF THE SAME."
Sealed the 9th November 1866, and dated the 10th May 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Donald Nicoll at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th May
1866
I, DONALD NICOLL, of Oaklands Hall, West End, Kilburn, in the County
of Middlesex, Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING ANIMAL AND
VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES FROM DECOMPOSITION OR DECAY, AND FOR THE CONVEYANCE
AND TRANSPORT OF THE SAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the means of preserving
animal and vegetable substances from decomposition or decay, and in apparatus,
connected therewith for the purpose of conveying or transporting such substances
from place to place.
The object of the Invention is chiefly to enable raw or uncooked meat, fish,

page_text: poultry, or game, or vegetables to be preserved in a fresh state and conveyed
to distant places in such condition which is at present impossible to be
done. In like manner milk may also be preserved in a fresh condition for a
considerable time, and conveyed to a distance ready for use. I propose to
construct a tank of metal or wood lined with metal, or with gutta percha, or
if of wood only then with metal and then with gutta percha; the tank
may be of a square, circular, or other form, but is provided with an inner or
false lining which forms a space for the introduction of water, creosoted water,
or other liquid capable of attracting and absorbing or disinfecting gases; I
then cover the tank with a lid formed after the manner of a gasometer lid,
the sides of which pass down between the true and false linings of the tank,
and thus form an air-tight closing of the tank; the lid is caused to pass between
two rings or rows of india-rubber attached one to the true and the other to the
false lining, the surfaces of the rubber press against the inner and outer surfaces
of the lid, and prevent the escape or overflow of the liquid; the lid is
fastened down by hinged rods extending from its top part and brought down
to the sides of the tank to which they are fastened by means of eyes or rings
and bolts or locks, or by an elastic band.
The preservative agents I prefer to employ are the sulphuret, sulphide,
sulphite, and byposulphite of potassa, soda, lime, or alumina, alkalines, nitrites,
carbon, the protoxide or carbonate of iron, or protosulphuret of iron, sulphuric
acid in such quantities or combinations as may be necessary for the length of
journey or the season of the year.
In some cases I propose to form a false bottom to the tank or receptacle,
and also a false top consisting of a coil of copper wire in contact with a solution
of any of the above chemical agents, when by means of a galvanic battery I
excite the production or evolution of preservative gases, and the absorption or
neutralization of deleterious gas, the animal or vegetable substances being
placed in the tanks on suitable supports or recesses, are thus enabled to be con-
veyed to great distances without risk of decomposition from external atmospheric
air, or from the air contained in the tank which is rendered preservative
by the evolution of preservative gases, and the absorption of any deleterious
gas that may be given off in the tank at the commencement of the closing up.
The chlorides may also be used with advantage by reason of their dis-
infectant properties, and I'álso propose to use hydrated nitrates of soda, lime,
and potash, in such cases the tanks would be supplied with the dry nitrate
or salt, which should be merely scattered on the floor of the 'tank' by preference
n' combination with pounded wood charcoal; 'then the 'carbon' and hydrated
in
(1..

page_text: nitrates would absorb the moisture and deleterious gases and become deliquescent,
but they could be used over and over again by subjecting them to heat to
drive off the water of crystallization in the nitrates and to render the charcoal
again fit for use. The tank may be of an arched form, the base being flat
so as to form a light carriage when set on wheels for the conveyance of food
for short distances; this receptacle would be closed at one en'l and the other
would be open, but having a flange on the edge protecting a lining of india-
rubber or gutta percha fixed to the main body of the tube, on to this flange a
plate or cover of metal is secured by means of thumbscrews so as to render
the receptacle air-tight. The ingredients having been introduced as before,
and the animal or vegetable substances properly-disposed, the process is
completed, and the goods may be conveyed in a fresh condition to their
destination. I also propose to employ a receptacle or carriage which shall not
be air-tight for the purpose of conveying articles of food in a fresh state for
such short distances, as from an out-lying suburb into a town; the roof of
the carriage is provided with means of hanging carcases of animals, or for
otherwise. supporting fish or poultry; or the carcases may lie horizontally in
the receptacle; the receptacle is divided into partitions by means of shifting
planks covered on one or both sides with cocoa-nut fibre or other absorbent
fabric, which is to be saturated with a solution of any of the chemical ingredients
before mentioned, or with petroleum or gas tar, or creosoted water, the uir
traversing these divisions becomes impregnated with the preservative gases
liberated or evaporated from the solution and thus preserves the contents of the
receptacle from the first effects of decomposition.
The other forms of apparatus may be supplied if desirable with an absorbent
lining saturated with solution as above.
For the conveyance of milk, the perservative gas may be contained in a
compressed state in a capsule situated within the milk can, and when the
can is closed up air-tight a spring catch is to be released from the exterior
of the can which will open a valve on the capsule, and so liberate. the
preservative gas; or a discharging pin may be driven in against a detonating
cap on the capsule so as to liberate gas by percussive action and decomposition ;
or a friction fuse may be applied in lieu of a detonator. This method is also
applicable to the other forms of apparatus. Or a receptacle may be formed
in the milk can or on the lid thereof to contain an alkaline or other solution,
when by a pin and spring the closed vessel may be suddenly opened causing
a mixture of the ingredients and evolving any suitable perservative gas
which may be caused to pass down a tube into the interior of the can,

page_text: and thus act in accordance with the foregoing principles of preserving the
contents.
No definite proportions of the preservative chemical ingredients can be
given, since they must depend upon the size of the of the apparatus and
quantity of food to be preserved, and the time during which such food is
required to be preserved.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Donald Nicoll in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
November 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DONALD
NICOLL, of Oaklands Hall, West End, Kilburn, in the County of Middlesex,
Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Donald Nicoll, Her special licence that I, the said Donald Nicoll, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Donald Nicoll,
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 THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR
PRESERVING ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES FROM DECOMPOSITION OR DECAY, AND
FOR THE CONVEYANCE AND TRANSPORT OF THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Donald Nicoll, my executors or administrators, by an in-
strument 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 Donald Nicoll, 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 :-

page_text: This Invention relates to certain improvements in the means of preserving
animal and vegetable substances from decomposition or decay, and in apparatus
connected therewith for the purpose of conveying or transporting such sub-
stances from place to place.
The object of the Invention is chiefly to enable raw or uncooked meat, fish,
poultry, or game, or vegetables, or milk to be perserved in a fresh state and
conveyed to distant places in a wholesome condition. I propose to construct a
tank, vessel, or carriage of metal or wood lined with some suitable material, and
the tank, vessel, or carriage may be of a square, circular, or any suitable form,
and I place therein certain preservative agents caused by a combination or action'
herein-after described of the sulphuret, sulphide, sulphite, and hyposulphite
of potassa, soda, lime, or alumina, alkalines, nitrites, carbon, the protoxide or
carbonate of iron, or protosulphuret of iron, sulphuric acid, or other chemical
ingredients known to be able to produce gases or otherwise capable of pre-
serving food, and in such quantities or combinations as may be necessary for
the length of journey or the season of the year. In some cases
propose to
form inside the tank, vessel, or carriage, a false or perforated bottom, and
also a false or perforated top containing a coil of copper wire in contact with
any of the above chemical agents, when by means of a wire brought
outside the tank, vessel, or carriage to a galvanic battery I excite the.
production, ignition, or evolution of the needful preservative gases, and
the absorption or neutralization of others, the animal or vegetable sub-
stances are thus enabled to be conveyed to great distances without risk of
decomposition.
I
The chlorides may also be used with advantage by reason of their disinfectant
properties, and I also propose to use bydrated nitrates of soda, lime, and
potash, in such cases the tanks would be supplied with the dry nitrate or salt.
which would be merely scattered on the floor of the tank, by preference in
combination with pounded wood, charcoal, or animal charcoal; then the carbon
and bydrated nitrates would absorb the moisture and deleterious gases and
become deliquescent and removable by opening valves towards which channels.
are directed in the bottom of the tank, vessel, or carriage. The size and
shape of each tank, vessel, or carriage will depend upon the quantity or
nature of the articles required to be packed, but the shape I prefer for moving
carcases and offal from the continental or country slaughter houses.is that of
an arched form, the base being flat so as to form a light conveyance when
set on wheels. This receptacle would be fitted with perforated shelves or
trays, and be permanently closed except at one end, and its exterior would.

page_text: resemble a pianoforte van, but having a flange on the open end protecting a
lining of india-rubber or gutta percha fixed to the main body, on to this flange
a moveable end plate or door of metal is secured by means of thumbscrews,
and after certain wires or pins communicating from the outside of the tank,
vessel, or carriage are fixed in grooves provided for the same; the receptacle is
thus rendered air-tight, the ingredients or combination of same having been
introduced as before mentioned, and the animal or vegetable substances also
placed therein, and preservative gases excited by ignition or blending of
chemical ingredients, either by the agency of a galvanic battery or by violent
concussion and sudden contact, and through the said wires or pins being
brought to the outside of the air-tight tank, vessel, or carriage, and thus
causing to be set loose into the tank, the requisite amount of the said pre-
servative gases the process becomes complete, but in some cases, and particularly
for short distances, I prefer to use ordinary gunpowder or some of its
constituent parts, when caked by water and dried at a heat of not less
than 70 or more than 90 degrees, and formed into cakes ready for ignition
so as to produce the requisite quantity of preservative gas; or compounds
producing the preservative gases may be contained in a compressed state in
capsules or cases situated in various parts within the tanks, vessels, or carriages,
and when such are closed up discharging pins after the manner of breech-
loading guns firing the central discharging copper cartridge may be
driven in against detonating caps on or within the capsules so as frequently.
to liberate and produce any required amount of the preservative gases.
by percussive action; or a friction fuse may be applied in lieu of a detonator.
No definite proportions or precise nature of either of the chemical ingredients
producing preservative gases can be described, since they must depend
upon the size of the apparatus, and quantity of food to be preserved, and the
time during which such food is required to be preserved.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be carried into effect, I claim as my improvements in
the apparatus for and the preservation of animal and vegetable substances,―
Firstly, the employment of tanks, vessels, or carriages rendered air-tight,
but in such a manner that their contents can be communicated with from the
exterior without admitting atmospheric air, in the manner substantially as
herein specified.
Secondly, the excitement, ignition, or bringing into operation by electric.
or percussive action after blending or admixture, as herein-before described.
of any or all of the known chemical ingredients capable of producing gases.

page_text: tending to preserve animal or vegetable substances contained in the before
described tanks, vessels, or carriages, substantially as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Donald Nicoll, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
ALEX. M. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
DONALD NICOLL. (L.S.)