AN IMPROVED PRESERVED FOOD
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edwards, of 3, Staple Inn, Holborn,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
PRESERVED FOOD."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edwards at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 12th February 1869.
I, HENRY EDWARDS, of 3, Staple Inn, Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Ar
IMPROVED PRESERVED FOOD," to be as follows:-
I take certain articles in a dried granulated and subdivided state, as
potatoes, or other articles of similar nature, combine them with meat
or other fleshy substance in a concentrated state. The preserved potato
or other vegetable substance being in a divided state and of an absorbent
nature is adapted for combining with the concentrated food and for
:

page_text: preserving this new food in a dried state. The natural potato or pre-
served potato when moistened and mixed with meat becomes impregnated
and retains the flavor of the meat or other fleshy substance, after which
it is dried or dessicated at a moderate temperature in a granulated or
subdivided form, and when in this state it can be packed in tin or other
cases, and if kept dry will keep good in any climate as a valuable article
- of diet for mankind. This new food can be cooked and ready for use in
a few minutes by the mere addition of boiling water or other liquid,
and produces a very palatable and highly nutritious food, also an anti-
scorbutic for sea service.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Edwards in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th August 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
EDWARDS, of No. 3, Staple Inn, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
"WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoriá, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Edwards, Her special licence
that I, the said Henry Edwards, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Edwards, 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 "Ax IMPROVED
PRESERVED FOOD," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Henry Edwards, my. executors or administrators, by an instrument
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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Edwards, 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 :-
I take potatoes or other vegetable substance in a natural or cooked
state, or other articles of a similar nature, mix them with meat or other
fleshy substances in a concentrated state. The natural potato or other
vegetable when thus mixed with meat or other fleshy substances, essence,
or extract therefrom becomes impregnated and retains the flavour and
the nutriment of the said articles. I then bring it into a granulated or
finely divided state and dry it at a regulated temperature; when in this
state it can be packed in tin or other cases, and if kept dry presents in
any climate a valuable and portable article of diet. This new food can
be easily cooked and ready for use in a few minutes, producing a most
palatable and nutritious soup or food.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare my claim to be,
the combining potatoes or other vegetables with meat or other fleshy
substances in a granulated or subdivided and dried state as an improved
food.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Edwards, have hereunto