Improvements in Toilet or Sanitary Paper.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 8th Mar., 1890
Improvements in Toilet or Sanitary Paper.
I, ROBERT HANNAN, of 42, Bath Street, Glasgow, Merchant, 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 :-
The sanitary treatment of drains & closets has hitherto depended on the introduction
into them from time to time of various antiseptic matters, such as chloride of lime or
carbolic acid, either in the solid, liquid, or dissolved form. Automatic machinery has
also been used for the purpose.
All these means, however, are likely to become, & in
fact are, inefficient on account of neglect to apply them. Now my invention has for
its object to render such neglect impossible.
In order to carry out my invention I take paper (either in the form of tissue or
pulp) & impregnate it with a soluble sanitary antiseptic matter or substance, or
mixture of substances & then dry it; taking care not to use a substance that would
act prejudicially on the human body. Such paper would necessarily be used in a closet,
latrine, midden, commode, or other receptacle for foecal matter; & it would accom-
pany the excreta in their passage into the drain. The drain & its contents would
thus become the subject of sanitary or antiseptic treatment; & the spread of infectious
matter would be retarded or even prevented by this means. The drain also would
cease to emit foul smells as is ordinarily noticed.
In order to prepare paper for this purpose, I impregnate it (with the suitable
antiseptic matter) either in the engine where the pulp is being worked, by throwing
into it the said matter either in the liquid or dissolved state, or I take the finished
paper as a tissue and run it through a trough containing a solution of the antiseptic
matter, & then dry it; or I convert the dissolved antiseptic matter into a spray by
means of any known form of spray producer, & pass the said tissue through it, & then
dry it.
It is very convenient in some cases, to mix gelatine, ordinary size, starch, paste, or
other adhesive matter with the solution of antiseptic substance, in order to effect a closer
combination of the said matter with the paper or pulp.
As regards the soluble antiseptic matter to be used, any ordinary variety may be
employed, such as carbolate of soda, sulphate of zinc & the like. But I prefer to use
a mixture of Boracic Acid with borax, to which mixture a small proportion (say
one fortieth of its weight) of salicylate of soda or other soluble salicylate has been
added.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
(1.) The unavoidable sanitary treatment of drains, closets & the like by means of a
paper duly impregnated with with a soluble antiseptic matter or mixture not injurious
to the human body.
(2.) The prior incorporation with the said matter or mixture, as so used, of an
adhesive substance.
(3.) The preparation of paper by the means already referred to, for antiseptic
purposes in drains, closets & the like, substantially as hereinbefore described.
1
T21
D
1000
R. HANNAN.