Henry Bollmann Condy Explained

Henry Bollmann Condy (8 July 1826 – 24 September 1907)[1] was an English chemist and industrialist best noted for giving his name to the popular 19th and 20th century disinfectants Condy's Crystals and Condy's Fluid.

Condy was born in London.[2] His mother inherited a chemical factory in Battersea from a Hungarian chemist named Dr Bollmann. A company was eventually set up in London that was known variously as Bollmann Condy and Co., Condy and Co., Condy Brothers and Co., Condy's Fluid Co., and Condy and Mitchell Ltd. The company began as a firm of vinegar manufacturers and drysalters. It later moved into essential oil, vitriol and disinfectant production. Condy became a partner in the company in 1854.

Condy had an interest in disinfectants and marketed products such as "ozonised water". He developed and patented "Condy's fluid" in 1857.[3] Condy’s fluid was a disinfectant solution of alkaline manganates and permanganates that could be taken internally or used externally. It had various indications including the treatment and prevention of scarlet fever. A more stable crystalline version of Condy's fluid was subsequently developed and marketed as Condy's Crystals or Condy's Powder. The fluid and crystals were both manufactured at the company’s works in Battersea between 1867 and 1897. The factory was taken over by Morgan Crucible.

He died in Folkestone, Kent.

Footnote

Advertisements that appeared in the Kingston newspaper The Gleaner[4] during the 1860s and 1870s claimed that Condy's fluid was used

References

Pamphlets by Condy

External links

Original Advertisements

Notable Commendations

Notes and References

  1. England & Scotland, Select Cemetery Registers, 1800-2016
  2. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
  3. Hugo . W.B. . A brief history of heat and chemical preservation and disinfection . Journal of Applied Microbiology . 71 . 9–18 . 1991 . 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1991.tb04657.x . 1894581 . 1.
  4. http://www.newspaperarchive.com/newspapers1/na0025/66401/694396.html?oneclick=true Newspaper archive