CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURING OF SOAP
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Germain Jean Paul Marie Villeroux, of Paris, in
the Empire of France, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURING OF SOAP."
Sealed the 29th April 1856, and dated the 29th October 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. left by the said Germain Jean Paul
Marie Villeroux, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 29th October 1855.
I, GERMAIN JEAN PAUL MARIE VILLEROUX, of. Paris, in the Empire of
France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURING OF SOAP" to be as follows:-
For toilet use I either compose two different kinds of soap, or I use the
common soap. I dissolve two pounds of soap, commonly called Marseille
soap, in water on a gentle fire, stirring it carefully with a wooden spatula until
its perfect dissolution, & getting a consistency of a slight pap; I then add,
1°, a pint of water; 2°, four pounds of almond soap, or any other similar soap
(almond soap dissolves best); after its dissolution I introduce 4,500 grains of
a powder prepared beforehand, & made impalpable by the known processes,
being taken from bony substances that have been adapted to pulverization by
the action. of fire, i. e., that are nearly calcined. The said quantity of 4,500
grains of powder may be raised to two pounds, according to the kind of soap

page_text: about to be manufactured. That mixture is-made to boil during ten minutes,
when it is removed from the fire; by getting cold the mass coagulates, &
takes the shape of a thick jelly; I then mix it well by stirring, when soon
after a somewhat coloured liquid is, perceptible that separates; it is salty &
very acre; it is the water that takes away the exceeding component parts of the
soap; it is a real washing which, however, causes only an almost imperceptible
deperdition. I decant this liquid according to its separation; that operation
being over, I put the composition on the fire again, the soap dissolves again,
but it has then the shape of a rather thick paste. I stir the mass, mix it well,
& remove it from the fire. It will then present an homogeneous paste,
which is the soap to be obtained; it may be put into any shape; it serves all
purposes. However, when applied to linen & other tissues it is not necessary
to use so perfect a soap; in that case it is only required to mix with the
common soap, after its formation when manufactured by ones' self, & after
its dissolution as above, if it is taken ready made, a certain quantity of the said
powder, nearly in the same quantity, by having it boiled at a gentle fire, when
it is taken off in the consistency of a soft paste. In that case it is not required
to add any water, since it may do without washing, but care must be taken to
stir it well; besides, the proportions of the substances may be varied, when it
is equally excellent for both toilet and washing purposes. In using it, the soap
& the things to be washed are wetted, & the latter washed; after washing
& when taken into clear water it falls off immediately, leaving not the least
soapy couch, as is the case with most of the other soaps. It lathers abundantly,
cleans thoroughly, & provokes an agreeable sensation (that of silk); it creates
Beither pricking nor itching during or after washing; in short, not the slightest
alteration. For linen & other tissues it falls off almost as rapidly, leaving no
disagreeable smell behind.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Germain Jean Paul Marie Villeroux in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 29th April 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GERMAIN
JEAN PAUL MARIE VILLEROUX, of Paris, in the Empire of France, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Germain Jean Paul Marie Villeroux, Her special licence that I, the
said Germain Jean Paul Marie Villeroux, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Germain Jean Marie Paul Villeroux, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFAC-
TURING OF SOAP," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Germain
Jean Paul Marie Villeroux, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, 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 Germain Jean Paul Marie Villeroúx,
do hereby declare the nature of said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My Invention consists in preparing toilet or fancy soap, and other more
common soaps used for domestic purposes. For obtaining the former, I have
one part (in weight) of soap called Marseille soap dissolved in water over a slow
fire, stirring frequently the substance with a wooden slice till it is completely
dissolved and reduced to a state of pulp, to which I add then from 2 to 4 parts
of almond or any other nearly similar soap; after a complete dissolution, I
throw in the mixture from to (in weight) of a bony substance, calcined,
pulverized, and rendered almost impalpable. (This last substance may be
thrown in before the dissolution of the two soaps, but this is not advisable, and
also the proportions of the same may vary.) I afterwards pour into the stuff
thus dissolved from topint of water for each pound of soap, and stirring
the whole; I only allow it ten minutes boiling. On cooling, the stuff will
coagulate and assume the form of a thick jelly, which is to be stirred a little
and afterwards left still; soon after a lightly-coloured liquor is seen to
separate, which is acrid and salty; this is the washing off of the exceeding soap
compounds. I decant this liquor, and put again over the fire the stuff, which
melts, and after a proper stirring and mixing will now assume the form of a
thick paste, that I cast in any suitable moulds. With regard to house soap, it
will suffice for obtaining it to add to any common soap, after its dissolution in

page_text: the manner as has been described, a variable quantity of the said pulverized
bony substance, and submit the said stuff to a few minutes' boiling over a slow
fire, when it has got the state of a paste fit to be moulded. No washing off
is required by any addition of water, but stirring is most important. This
improved soap affords an abundant lather, has no offensive smell, and never
leaves after being used any soapy scurf; it will cause no itching either during
or after the washing, but, on the contrary, occasion a pleasant sensation on
the skin.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be carried into effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein described,
as such may be varied or modified without departing from the nature of action
thereof; but what I claim as novel, and therefore as being secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is, mixing with the soap stuff,
consisting of two different soaps, melted and mixed in the manner as I have
described, a certain proportion of calcined pulverized bones, which last
substance is apt to impart to soap such properties as I have set forth in my
Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said Germain Jean Paul Marie Villeroux,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 29th day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
G. J. P. M. VILLEROUX. (L.S.)