US1015601A - Method and means for preserving and mailing specimens. - Google Patents

Description

R. L. WATKINS.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PRESERVING AND MAILING SPEGiMBNS.

AYPLIOATION FILED MAY 16, 1907.

1,015,601; Patented Jan.23,191 2.

WITNESSES INVENToR W m BO 6r$1 .?VZlkins nr ronusrs f ent ies. I

ROBERT L. wa'rxms, or New YORK, ,N. Y.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed ma 16, 1907.

PRESERVING AND MAILING SPECIMENS.

Patented Jan. 23, 1%12. Serial No. 373,984.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. VVA'rK Ns, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, and the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Method and Means for Preserving and rvrailingspecinins, of which the following is a specification.

In recent years great progress has been made in diagnosing various diseases and ailments by a. microscopical examination of the blood, it appearing that each distinct disease of the system manifested by certain physiological characteristics in the blood. Such microscopical examinations are made, however, by specialists located in the larger cities, .and it-is necessary, quite frequently, to mail or otherwise transport specimens a considerable distance, for the purpose ofwhich transit great care must be taken to properly pack and preserve said specimens against drying or contamination.

The present invention appertains to a method of and means whereby a specimen or sample of blood, or other material, for microscopical examination, may be preserved for a considerable period in practically its original state, or, atdeast, preserved to such extent as to reveal to the skilled microscopist pathological condition when taken from the living creature.

Tn the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a. perspective view of the interior receptacle showing the cover removed therefrom; Fig. 2 shows the same receptacle but with the cover in its closed position; Fig. 3 shows the said receptacle incased in a moisture containing inner wrapperandrest ing on \a moisture proof outside wrapper; and Fig. 4 is a cross section through the recept'acle and its two coverings and showing the location ofthe specimens.

The main receptacle, which may be made of wood, metal or other suitable material is composed of two members A and B, which are provided with depressed chambers, A, B, respectively, opposing each other. The member, 13, is provided with a groove, a, and a tongue, Z), and the member, A,is provided with a groove, (1', and a tongue, I),

the tongue and groove of the member, B, bemg complementary to the groove and tongue of the member, A so that a substantially dovetail joint is formed on both sides of the receptacle when the two members, A and B, are placed in a closed position.

Between the members, A, B. is a glass slide, C, serving to form a partition between i I the chambers, A, B. The object of this glass slide is to permit of specimens being carried and kept independent in the respe'ctive chambers, A, B. The chamber, B, is, preferably, provided with two thin cover glasses, 0, d, between which may be placed the specimen, such as blood, 6. The chamher, A, may be provided with similar cover glasses, or, as shown in Fig. 4-, with a single cover glass, j", resting on the glass slide, C, with the specimen, 6, betweensaid plate and glass slide. havingbeen placedin the chambers, as described, and the members, A, B, adjusted to a closed position, the receptacle is then wrapped in absorbent foldable material, E, such as cotton batting, or blotting paper,

which has been saturated with water, or thereby 1ncasmg the specimens in a moist atmosphere,-

suitable antiseptic solution,

and preventing them from unduly drying.

The receptacle, with its moisture carryingwrapper, E, is then securely inclosed in a covering 'of non-absorbing material,F,such as tin foil, the object of which to prevent the moisture escaping from the interior wrapper, E. If it is desired to transmit only a single specimen, it will be obvious that one of the chambers A, B, may be dispensed with. Further, insome cases, it may be found desirable to wrap the specimens and cover glasses in tissue paper or cotton to prevent the same being displaced. When the specimens have been incased, as described, they may be kept th rein almost indefinitely, and the package ma led or otherwise shipped to its desired destination.

From the foregoing description of the invention, its mode of operation and utility will be obvious.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of preserving microscopic'al specimens which consists in incasing' them between glass in a substantially closed receptacle, wrapping said receptacle in a moisture containing covering, and further One or more specimens Wrapping the said receptacle and a moisture contaming covering in a non-absorbing cas- 2. The method of preserving microscopical specimens which consists in incasing them between glass in a substantially closed receptacle, surrounding said receptacle with a moist wrapper, and then incasing said receptacle and wrapper in tin foil.

3. The herein described package for preserving and mailing specimens consisting of a substantially closed receptacle adapted to incase a microscopical specimen, a moisture containing wrapper surrounding said receptacle, and a non-absorbent covering inclosing said receptacle and wrapper.

The herein described package for preserving and mailing consisting of a substantially closed receptacle, glass covers within said receptacle between which is adapted to be placed a microscopical specimen, a mois receptacle and thereby providing a moist ture absorbing covering surrounding said receptacle, and a non-absorbing wrapper incasing said receptacle and covering.

5. The heretofore described package consisting of a substantially closed receptacle adapted to contain a microscopical specimen, moistened cotton batting surrounding said receptacle, and tin foil incasing said" moistened cotton batting, 3O

atmosphere in and around a substantially closed receptacle and preventing the escape of moisture from the cotton batting by means of said tin foil.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 35 name'to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' ROBERT L. WATKINS.

' Witnesses J AS. H. GRIFFrN, H. I. BERNHARD.

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