Most of the patents prior to 1836 were lost in the Dec. 1836 fire. Only about 2,000 of the almost 10,000 documents were recovered. Little is known about this patent. There are no patent drawings available. This patent is in the database for reference only.

For Preserving Timber from decay; Forrest Shepherd, Fredericksburg, Spottsylvania county, Virginia, October 8.

The wood is first to be steamed, or boiled, to “destroy the sap, or principle of decay,” and after this to be immersed in pyroligneous acid, until saturated. The patentee says that he also preserves wood from decay, and from destruction by worms, by boiling it in a solution of sulphate of iron,sulphate of alumine, and muriate of soda; or, in other words, in a solution of copperas, alum, and common salt, taking half an ounce of each to a gallon of water. This is all the information given, and no claim is made.

We apprehend that the foregoing directions are altogether empirical, and that the patentee has been guided more by his hopes than by his experience, which ought, in such a case, to be the result of long continued and varied observation. A patent was lately obtained for saturating timber with lime, which was to neutralize the acid supposed to be contained in it; in the present instance, it is to be made to imbibe as much acid as possible; these views are theoretical, or rather hypothetical, and must not be depended upon as guides. The foregoing specification makes no claim, offers little or nothing that is new, and merely lays before us several recipes, from which to make a choice. The saline solutions named will do much towards rendering the wood incombustible, if they do not protect it against the attacks of the dry rot.

Journal of the Franklin Institute, Vol. 15, May 1835 pg. 316.

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