AN IMPROVED DISINFECTANT
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Domingos Sant Agata, of Lisbon, in the Kingdom
of Portugal, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED DISINFECTANT."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Domingos Sant Agata
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 16th May 1860.
I, DOMINGOS SANT AGATA, of Lisbon, in the Kingdom of Portugal, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED DISINFECTANT,"
to be as follows:-
The objects of this Invention are to produce a disinfectant, the effects of which
are prompt and efficient, at the same time producing economical results, and
to have a more beneficial effect upon the public salubrity. These are effected
in the following manner :-I collect the common cockle and other shells found
on the sea-shore, and calcine them in a suitably constructed furnace until
they are reduced to a friable condition, and readily broken and powdered; to
this powder I add just half the quantity of sulphate of iron, thus producing
a fine yellow inodorous powder resembling ochre. It will thus be seen that
the material is inexpensivo; it is quick and economic in its action, as it
requires but 1 part of the disinfectant to 100 of the matter to be treated. It
is more especially intended for all kinds of feculent matter.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Domingos Sant Agata in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 16th November 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DOMINGOS
SANT AGATA, of Lisbon, in the Kingdom of Portugal, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Domingos Sant Agata, Her special licence that I, the said Domingos Sant
Agata, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Domingos Sant Agata, 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 "AN IMPROVED DISINFECTANT," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Domingos Sant Agata, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that J, the said Domingos Sant Agata, 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:-
The objects of this Invention are to produce a disinfectant, the effects of
which are prompt and efficient, at the same time producing economical
results, and to have a more beneficial effect upon the public salubrity.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, as follows:-I collect the common cockle and
other shells found on the sea-shore, and calcine them in a suitably con-
structed furnace until they are reduced to a friable condition, and readily
broken and powdered; to this powder I add just half the quantity of sulphate
of iron, thus producing a fine yellow inodorous powder resembling ochre.
It will thus be seen that the material is inexpensive; it is quick and economic

page_text: in its action, as it requires but about one part of the disinfectant to one
hundred of.the matter to be treated. It is more especially intended for all
kinds of feculent matter; and when used as a disinfectant for urine, about
two per cent. of common tar is to be added.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention of "An Improved
Disinfectant," and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I would
remark in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein
mentioned, as many descriptions of shells will be found to answer the same
purpose; neither do I restrict myself to the exact quantity of sulphate of iron
to be mixed with the calcined shells, nor any peculiar construction of furnace
for the purpose of so calcining shells; but what I claim as my Invention
intended to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent is,
the manufacture of an improved disinfectant in the manner herein described
for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Domingos Sant Agata, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE, Patent Agent,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
Dos. SANT AGATA. (L.S.)