containing the usual percentage of nicotine a 

 decoction prepared by boiling 15 grams of 

 tannic acid with 1% kilograms of water until 

 the weight is reduced to one kilogram ; then 30 

 grams of the essential oil of origanum vulgare 

 are added, after which the decoction is im- 

 mediately removed from the fire. Having stood 

 for some minutes the mixture is filtered and 

 allowed to cool to about 16 C., when the 

 preparation is ready to be spread over the 

 previously weighed tobacco. When the absorp- 

 tion of this mixture by the tobacco leaves is 

 completed, they are subjected to slight pres- 

 sure and moderate heat, after which they are 

 ready for the manufacture of the various to- 

 bacco products. 



Tannic acid is a well-known antidote for 

 nicotine poisoning, and it is claimed for Gerold's 

 process that while the undistilled nicotine is 

 neutralized in its toxic qualities only by the 

 tannic acid, that this does not influence at all 

 its peculiar odor nor most of its other charac- 

 teristics. From the Pharmaceutical Era, July 

 27, 1899, p. 144. 



Havana cigars are generally better if smoked 

 fresh; domestic cigars are better if allowed to 

 age in the box several months before using. 



217 



