428-4 
substantially as follows: The cut leaves and stems are placed in some convenient 
apparatus, covered to a good depth with water, and allowed to digest 24 hours or 
more, then heated by means of superheated steam for half an hour, filtered and 
pressed. The mass is again dealt with in the same way, and the resultant liquids 
united and evaporated to one-third. Ten per cent. of the original weight of the 
tobacco of slaked caustic lime is now added, and the whole subjected to distillation 
by steam, until the disgusting odor of nicotia is no longer perceptible from the 
still. The distillate is now neutralized by a known weight of oxalic acid and 
evaporated to a thin syrup, the requisite amount of potassa to neutralize the 
known quantity of acid is now added, which causes a separation of the crude 
nicotia; this is collected and the menstruum treated with ether to extract the re- 
maining alkaloid. Both resultants are now mixed, purified by distillation with 
hydrogen, solution in ether, shaking with powdered oxalic acid, solution again in 
ether, decomposing with potassa and redistillation in hydrogen. The distillate 
(Nicotia) is a colorless pure liquid, having a peculiar repulsive acrid odor not 
resembling tobacco, a burning taste, strong alkaline reaction, turning brown when 
exposed to light and air, and a specific gravity of 1.048 at o° C. (32° F.). It boils 
at 250° C. (482° F.), is soluble to any quantity in water, alcohol or ether, and com- 
pletely saturates acids. 
The question as to the presence of nicotia in tobacco smoke, a point quite 
necessary to determine, seems still unsettled, many chemists of note having failed 
to detect its presence, while others find it in considerable quantity without appar- 
ent trouble. Vohl and Eulenberg (1871) conclude that nicotia is completely 
decomposed in the process of smoking, while Kissling (1882) in a comprehensive 
essay * criticises their process, and judges that their analysis was incorrect. He 
also criticises the analyses of Heubel, LeBon and Pease, who found nicotia, and 
reports its presence in his own analysis. The smoke contains, according to Vohl 
and Eulenberg, who have made careful analyses,+ pyridine, C, H,N; piccoline, 
C, H, N; lutidine, C, H, N; coltdine, C, Hy, N; parvoline, C, H,, N; cort- 
ae, Ct. N; rubidine, C,H, N; and wiridixe, C,H, N; all of which are 
bases occurring in coal-tar, and in Dippel’s oil (Oleum Animale Dippeliz), 
a product of the dry distillation of bones and other animal matter. Besides 
these another hydrocarbon, C,, H,,; carbonic anhydride; hydrocyanic acid; sul- 
phuretted hydrogen ;_ acetic anhydride; formic, propionic, butyric, valeric and 
carbolic acids; creosote ; several hydrocarbons of the acetylene group; ammonia; 
methane and carbonic oxide were found present. 
Oleum Tabaci.—This empyreumatic, tarry liquid doubtless contains many of 
the hydrocarbons mentioned above, and mixed with nicotia is in 
subsidence found in the smoker's pipes. 
: Nicotianin.— Tobacco Camphor.—C,, H,, N, O,. Hermbstadt (1823) ob- 
served floating separate upon the surface of an aqueous distillate of tobacco 
leaves, white laminz, to which he gave the above name, Nicotianin consists of 
white, scale-like crystals, having a bitter aromatic taste, soluble in water, alcohol 
and ether, and emitting a tobacco-like odor. 
great part that 
* Quoted in Four. Chem. Soc., August, 1882. 
7 Vierteljahrsschr. S. gerichtl, und offentl, Medicin, N. ed., Vol. 14, P- 249. 
