230 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



form of gas combined with carbonic acid; the carbonic acid gas partly 

 free and partly in combination with ammonia. The nicotine is a non- 

 volatile body, an alkaloid which remains in the pipe ; the cmpyreu- 

 matic substance is a volatile body, having the nature of an ammonia, 

 but the exact composition of which is as yet unknown ; it is this that 

 gives to the smoke its peculiar odor ; it adheres very powerfully to 

 woolen materials, and in the concentrated form is so obnoxious as almost 

 to be intolerable. The bitter extract is a resinous substance, of dark 

 color, and of intensely bitter taste. It is probably, a compound body, 

 having an alkaloid as its base. It is not volatile, and only leaves the 

 pipe by being carried along the stem in the fluid form. Variations 

 in different kinds of Tobacco. The greatest variations exist in vari- 

 ous kinds of tobacco. Simple tobacco, that has not undergone fer- 

 mentation, yields very little free carbon, much ammonia, much car- 

 bonic acid, little water, none, or the smallest possible trace of nico- 

 tine, a very small quantity of empyreumatic vapor, and an equally 

 small quantity of bitter extract. Latakia tobacco yields these same 

 products only. Bristol's Bird's-eye yields large quantities of am- 

 monia and very little nicotine. Turkish yields much ammonia. Shag 

 tobacco yields all the products in abundance, and the same may be 

 said of pure Havanna cigars. Cavendish varies considerably ; some 

 specimens which are quickly dried are nearly as simple as Latakia ; 

 other specimens which are moist, yield all the products in great abun- 

 dance. Pigtail yields every product most abundantly. The little 

 Swiss cigars yield enormous quantities of ammonia, and Manillas yield 

 very little. Physiological effects of the compounds named above. 

 The water vapor is innocuous ; the carbon settles on the mucous mem- 

 brane, and irritates the throat. The carbonic acid is a narcotic, if it 

 be received into the lungs : the ammonia causes dry ness and biting of 

 the mucous membrane of the throat, and increases the How of saliva. 

 Absorbed into the blood it renders that fluid too thin, causing irregu- 

 larity of the blood-corpuscles; it also causes, when absorbed in large 

 quantities, suppression of the biliary secretion and yellowness of skin ; 

 it quickens and then reduces the action of the heart, and in young 

 smokers, it produces nausea. The empyreumatic substance seems to 

 be almost negative in its effects-, but it gives to the tobacco smoke its 

 peculiar taste, and it is this substance that makes the breath of con- 

 firmed smokers so unpleasant. Nicotine is scarcely ever imbibed by 

 the cleanly smoker; it affects those only who smoke cigars, by hold- 

 ing the cigar in the mouth, and those who smoke dirty pipes, satu- 

 rated with oily matter. Its effects, when absorbed, are very injurious ; 

 it causes palpitation, tremor and irregular action of the heart ; tremor 

 and unsteadiness of the muscles generally, and great prostration. It 

 does not, however, produce nausea or vomiting. The bitter extract 

 is the cause of vomiting and nausea when it is absorbed; both it and 

 the nicotine are always received into the mouth in solution, and pro- 

 duce their effects, either by direct absorption from the mouth, or by 

 being imperceptibly swallowed and taken into the stomach. 



Mode of. Smoking. The greatest difference arises from the man- 

 ner of smoking. Those who use clean, long pipes of clay, feel only 

 the effect of the gaseous bodies and the free carbon. Wooden pipes 

 and pipes with glass stems are injurious. Cigars, smoked to the end 



