An Improved Remedy for the Cure of Erysipelas and other sorts of Inflammation.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Remedy for the Cure of Erysipelas and other sorts of
Inflammation.
I ALFRED FIRBY of 10 Infirmary Street in Leeds in the County of York
Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My remedy is a lotion consisting of precipitated sulphate of lead, precipitated
tannate of lead and precipitated peroxide of iron suspended in a solution of acetate
of alumina, nitrate of potash and acetate of ammonia and the proportions in which
such different ingredients are to be used will appear from the method of preparation
hereinafter described. I sometimes use in addition thereto a small proportion of
iodide of lead.
According to my present practice I first prepare convenient quantities of the
sufficient number of cubic centimetres to contain the following weights of the
chemicals described viz. :-
a
C. C.
b C. C.
с C. C.
= 28 grammes (1 oz.) of mixed acetate and diacetate of lead.
=
=
oxide of iron.
d C. C.
C. C.
e
f C. C.
-
===
14 grammes (oz.) of alum or Roche alum.
solution of ferri acetas equal to 2 to 5 grammes of precipitated
2 to 5 grammes of nitrate of potash.
sufficient ammonia to precipitate hydrate oxide of iron.
3 to 6 grammes of tannic acid.
But I do not confine myself to the respective proportions here stated. I do in
fact sometimes vary the proportion of tannate of lead according to the nature of
the inflammation. In a bad case of crysipelas I should increase the oxide of iron
and tannate of lead. And the oxide of iron may be varied under the like circum-
stances and according to the colour which may be desired to be given to the lotion.
As before stated the above quantities are sufficient for an 8 ounce bottle of the
lotion made according to my invention. I proceed to make up the quantities named
in an 8 ounce bottle as follows namely I introduce the acetate of irou and then the
ammonia thereby precipitating the hydrated oxide of iron and producing acetate of
ammonia. I then or at the same time add the nitrate of potash following which 1
introduce the solution of acetates of lead. I then add the solution of tannic acid
thereby effecting the precipitation of tannate of lead and lastly I introduce the
solution of alum by means of which the precipitation of sulphate of lead takes place
with the simultaneous formation of acctate of alumina in solution.
The same results as aforesaid may be arrived at by using solutions of nitrate of
iron and carbonate of potash in place of the solution of acetate of iron and nitrate
of potash respectively. There are also other methods chemically equivalent. And
I may say that chloride of lead and carbonate of lead may be used instead of or in

page_text: addition to the other precipitates of lead, but by preference I do not at present
make use of these as I believe them to be less effective than the other precipitates.
By operating in the way described I effect the preparation of the precipitates
practically simultaneously thus effecting considerable saving in the time which
would otherwise have to be expended in the individual preparation and washing of
the precipitates.
Dated this Twentieth dox of Tomun1002
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Remedy for the Cure of Erysipelas and other sorts of
Inflammation.
I ALFRED FIRBY of 10 Infirmary Street Leeds in the County of York
Analytical Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My remedy is a lotion consisting of precipitated sulphate of lead, precipitated
tannate of lead and precipitated peroxide of iron suspended in a solution of acetate
of alumina nitrate of potash and acetate of ammonia and the proportions in which
such different ingredients are to be used will appear from the method of preparation
hereinafter described. I sometimes use in addition thereto a small proportion of
iodide of lead. In the first place I prepare convenient quantities of the following
chemicals viz. :—
a Separate solutions of acetate and di-acetate of lead or one solution of equal
*mixture of the said ingredients
b Solution of either alum or of Roche alum
C Solution of acetate of iron (ferri acetas)
d Solution of nitrate of potash (saltpetre)
e
Solution of ammonia (dilute)
f Solution of tannic acid
and from these respective solutions I draw off and mix together as hereinafter
mentioned in an eight ounce bottle (and for other sizes in the like proportions) a
sufficient number of cubic centimetres to contain the following weights of the
chemicals described viz. :—
a C. C
=
28 grammes (1 ounce) of mixed acetate and di-acetate of lead or of
either of the said ingredients if used separately.
b C. C =
C. C =
C
of iron.
d. C. C
e C. C
-
28 grammes (1 ounce) of alum or Roche alum.
solution of ferri acetas equal to 2 to 5 grammes of precipitated oxide
= 2 to 5 grammes of nitrate of potash.
sufficient ammonia to precipitate hydrated oxide of iron.
f C. C : 3 to 6 grammes of tannic acid.
+
But I do not confine myself to the respective proportions here stated. I do in
fact sometimes vary the proportion of tannate of lead according to the nature of the
inflammation. For instance in a bad case of erysipelas I should increase the oxide
of iron and tannate of lead. And the oxide of iron may be varied under the like
circumstances and according to the colour which may be desired to be given to the
lotion.
As before stated the above quantities are sufficient for an eight ounce bottle of
the lotion made according to my invention. I proceed to make up the quantities
named in an eight ounce bottle as follows namely I introduce the acetate of iron
and then the ammonia thereby precipitating the hydrated oxide of iron and
producing acetate of ammonia. I then or at the same time add the nitrate of

page_text: potash (but this ingredient may be the first to be introduced into the bottle if
preferred without material difference) following which I introduce the solution of
acetates of lead. I then add the solution of tannic acid thereby effecting the
precipitation of tannate of lead and lastly I introduce the solution of alum by means
of which the precipitation of sulphate of lead takes place with the simultaneous
formation of acetate of alumina in solution.
But I do not confine myself to this method of filling. The different ingredients
may if thought fit be all drawn off into one larger vessel and bottles filled from that.
But the order of mixing here described ought to be followed to ensure the
necessary reactions.
Neither do I confine myself to the particular chemicals above enumerated from
which to form solutions which when mixed together as above described produce a
lotion whose constituents are as hereinafter mentioned. The same results as
aforesaid may be arrived at by methods chemically equivalent. For instance
a mixed solution of nitrate of iron and carbonate of potash may be used in place of
the solutions of acetate of iron and nitrate of potash respectively or a mixture of
nitrate of iron and caustic potash may be used in place of the dilute solution
of ammonia or again the operation may be varied so as not to precipitate tannate of
lead at all in place of which constituent free tannic acid may be introduced or other
equivalents in tannates of potash and soda but I prefer tannate of lead.
By operating in the way described I effect the preparation of the precipitates
practically simultaneously thus effecting considerable saving in the time which
would otherwise have to be expended in the individual preparation and washing of
the precipitates.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
1. The combination of the aforesaid several ingredients (with or without the
admixture of iodide of lead) into a lotion so as thereby to be used simultaneously
for the cure of erysipelas or other sort of imflammation.
2. The combination of any chemical equivalent of any of the said ingredients
aforesaid with others of the said ingredients or any chemical equivalent of such
ingredients (with or without the admixture of iodide of lead) into a lotion
constituted as aforesaid or chemically equivalent thereto so as thereby to be used
simultaneously for the cure of erysipelas or other sort of inflammation.
3. The method of forming the several precipitates and acetates used in the
preparation of such lotion as aforesaid as herein before described or substantially as
hereinbefore described thereby ensuring greater certainty of a proper admixture as
well as saving of time.
4. The preparation of a lotion containing the several precipitates and acetates
used in the production of such lotion as aforesaid by any process chemically
equivalent to the method hereinbefore described whereby the several ingredients
are mixed together in the ultimate form in which they appear in such lotion
without being first separately prepared by the usual filtrations and washings.
Dated this Ninth day of November 1893.
ALFRED FIRBY.