relative to Pneumatic Medicine, 55 



Letter from John Biggs, Esq. to Dr. Thornton. 



SIR, Iping, near Midhurst. 



In answer to your letter I need not inform you that I 

 have a patent for the bleaching of paper, which is accom- 

 plished by means of the superoxygeuated gas, which has 

 the power of rendering the darkest paper a fine white, taking 

 out all colour. I have had paper which was mildewed in 

 going to India, completely restored by this air; which cir- 

 cumstance has given considerable profit to the trader* to the 

 East. Discoloured and mildewed prints are restored by the 

 same means. Mr. Splilsbury, printer, had Milton's Para- 

 dise Lost, a fine copy, much mildewed, perfectly recovered. 

 Books discoloured by age are rendered beautifully white by 

 this process. As I make no secret of it, I shall just men- 

 tion, that the articles are inclosed in a wooden receiver made 

 of deal, dove-tailed, and the inside set with large panes of 

 glass fastened together by filling any interstices with slips 

 of: wood. Manganese powdered is then used, with salt and 

 vitriolic acid, and these are placed in an earthen retort in a 

 sand heat, and, communicating by pipes with the boxes, 

 disengage in them the oxygenated gas. When the bleached 

 paper is taken out, after an hour or less, much of the gas, 

 of course, is distributed in the apartment. The persons 

 employed in this process enjoy excellent health ; one man 

 and two women have worked four years with me, and 

 have had uninterrupted health. I observe myself, that after 

 breathing this gas diffused in the room, I always experience 

 a greater warmth on that day, with an increased appetite. 

 My work-people make the same observations. 



The case you particularly inquired after, was that of a 

 young woman, aged 1 7, excessively pale, and so delicate a 

 skin that you might see through her fingers ; teeth a pearly 

 white, lips the colour of her complexion, breathing very 

 short, a violent cough, and great expectoration ; body much 

 reduced ; steel, &c. had been used in vain, and the fa- 

 culty with us supposed she would not recover. When she 

 came to work in my manufactory, my people told her she 

 would soon get well from the steam let out of the boxes : 

 and instead of her breathing getting worse, as some might 

 expect, it was greatly relieved ; her appetite came round ; 

 her complexion soon was rendered ruddy ; nature assumed 

 all her proper functions ; the cough left her ; and she has 

 continued to work in my manufactory more than a twelve- 

 month, and enjoys a very excellent state of health. 



I have the honour to be, sir, with great respect, 

 Your obedient humble servant, John Biggs. 

 D 4 Observations 



