728 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



1-2 feet long; flowers panicled, rose-purple; corolla funnel-form, 2 inches long; 

 lobes short, somewhat inflated. 



Distribution. Native to South America but widely cultivated ; introduced 

 into Europe by the Spaniards shortly after the discovery of America. The 

 best types of tobacco are cultivated in Cuba and Porto Rico ; and this forms 

 an extensive industry in North America, especially in Connecticut, Wisconsin, 

 Virginia, etc. 



Poisonous properties. Various opinions are expressed in regard to its 

 poisonous properties. It is known, however, that an alkaloid occurs in N. 

 Tabacum, N. macrophylla, N. rustica. and N. glutinosa, which apparently does 

 not occur in any other plant. 



The active principle of the tobacco leaf is the alkaloid nicotin C 1Q H N,, 

 which is easily extracted from tobacco by means of alcohol or water; it occurs 

 to the extent of 6 per cent in the dry leaves ; it has a sharp, burning taste, is 

 very poisonous and is said to have sixteen times the toxic power of coniiti. 

 On application of heat, nicotin is changed into pyridin, C r> H r N, and other sim- 

 ilar alkaloids like picolin, CHN. Pyridin depresses the spinal motor tract and 

 causes paralysis of respiration. Moderate doses cause contraction of the pupil. 

 Nicotein C 10 H JO N was found by Pictet and Rotschy in leaves of tobacco; also 

 nicotcmin C ]0 H 14 N , and nicotclUn C 10 H g N,,. According to more recent in- 

 vestigations the seeds of Nicotiana are free of nicotin. The following state- 

 ment is made with reference to the toxicology of nicotin by Dr. Winslow : 



Nicotin is one of the most powerful and rapidly acting poisons. When swallowed, it 

 causes, in animals, local irritation and pain in the throat and stomach; muscular tremors and 

 weakness, on account of which the animal falls. These symptoms are followed, first, by severe 

 tonic and clonic convulsions, and then by abolition of voluntary motion and quietude. The 

 pupils are contracted, and there is vomiting (in the case of some animals), purging and mic- 

 turition. The respiration is at first shallow and rapid, but becomes weaker and slower, and 

 death occurs from respiratory failure and general collapse. The pulse is primarily slow and 

 intermittent, but later becomes rapid. The treatment of poisoning consists in evacuation of 

 the stomach; the use of tannic acid; respiratory and heart stimulants, as strychnin, atropin, 

 and alcohol; together with external heat and artificial respiration. The minimum lethal dose 

 is about one drachm of tobacco, or one minim of nicotine, for small dogs. For horses, five to 

 ten drops of nicotin or one-half pound of tobacco. 



Friedberger and Frohner state that animals have convulsive spasms, great 

 muscular weakness, with acute paralysis. 



The chronic effects of the use of tobacco, according to Millspaugh, are as 

 follows : 



The effects produced upon smokers are almost useless in the study of the drug itself, and 

 it is only in that class of chewers who swallow the juice, that positive data could be looked 

 for; still here, as well, we are at a loss to determine facts, for in manufacturing the narcotic, 

 processes are used which alter the product greatly; nevertheless some few symptoms seem to 

 be more or less common to all who have been, for protracted periods, subjected to the drug. 

 Mental anxiety and irritability, with at times confusion of ideas; dilation of the pupils; ringing 

 in the ears; increased secretion of saliva; uncertainty of speech, dryness of the throat; at 

 times weakness of the stomach and nausea; increased secretion of urine; dry cough especially 

 at night; pra;cordial oppression with palpitation of the heart and at times an irregular pulse; 

 trembling of the extremities when held long in one position; general aiemic condition of the 

 blood spasmodic contraction or jactation of single muscles; sensations of exhaustion and 

 especially lassitude; sleepiness; profuse perspiration and sensitiveness to cold. 



A writer in the London Lancet quoting from the Therapeutic Gazette* states 

 that the injury from tobacco smoke comes largely from the inhalation of carbon 

 monoxide. Cigarette smoking is more harmful than smoking a pipe because more 

 of the gas is inhaled. 



* Vol. 32:78C. 



