760 Transactions of the American Institute. 



With these preparatory explanations of principles, for the adop- 

 tion of which, by tanners, I have been long advocating, I will now 

 proceed to the examination of my patent and re-issues for the years 

 1856 and 1866, and of particular portions of them Avhich have been 

 the subject of much comment, and on which I would like to offer 

 some explanatory remarks before proceeding with the simple read- 

 ing of both instruments. 



Beginning at the 11th and ending at the 15th line of the first 

 page, inclusively, you will find these words: 



" This invention relates to a new process of extracting tan-bark 

 and other vegetable substances, and it consists principally in the 

 application of steam to damp bark, or other substance, so that by 

 the action of moisture the bark or other substance is swelled, and 

 its pores are opened, and if the steam is admitted, it is enabled to 

 penetrate said bark or other substance, and to effect a perfect sepa- 

 ration of the soluble and insoluble parts thereof." 



To a tanner who is accustomed, with steam, to boil his bark 

 immersed in fluid, whilst the bark rests on a false bottom, perforated 

 ^v'ith holes throughout the whole superficial area within the leach, 

 the foregoing words, "This invention consists, principally, in the 

 application of steam to damp bark," cannot fail to address them- 

 selves intelligibly; and though the construction of his leaches 

 would admit of his running down his liquor and steaming his (then) 

 damp bark, yet he cannot fail to discern the novelty of the inven- 

 tion as an innovation upon all his previous habits and experiences; 

 and he will not only recognize b}' the foregoing words of my patent 

 what I intended to do in the premises, but will also admit that these 

 words are a sufficiently " full, clear and exact description, to enable 

 those skilled in the art to use the same; " and I think no sophistry 

 or special pleading could make any intelligent tanner believe that 

 by lessening the superficial area through which the steam could 

 pass up to the bark, the force of the steam or the result of its 

 application could be increased, or that there is any loophole left 

 by me in this description of my modus operandi for another to 

 invent the application of steam to damp bark. 



I will now refer to the wording of the 11th and 13th lines of 

 the 2d page, inclusive: "My method of dissolving, disjilacing and 

 concentrating the soluble portions of any suitable vegetable sub- 

 stance, is as follows, viz: the vegetable substance properly disin- 

 tegrated is placed within the percolator, and is then saturated with 

 any suitable menstruum." 



