INFLUENCE ON THE HUMAN SYSTEM. 79 



appears to act nearly in the same way as prussic acid. The 

 oil thus obtained consists of at least two substances. If 

 it be washed with acetic acid (vinegar) it loses its poison- 

 ous quality. It contains, therefore, a harmless oil, and 

 a poisonous alkaline substance, which the acetic acid 

 combines with and removes. The nature and chemical 

 properties of this alkaline poison have not as yet been 

 investigated." * 



Of the many analyses of tobacco which I have 

 read, the foregoing is the most minute, the most 

 precise, and the most disgusting. That the 

 analysis is perfectly correct there can be no doubt 

 whatever. It only remains to test the accuracy 

 of its alleged result in the practice of smoking. 

 It will signify little when I assure the reader that 

 I have smoked two cigars in transcribing the 

 analysis — for millions have been doing the same 

 thing during the same time all over the world ; 

 but let us embody a state of things occurring 

 every night in London — perhaps in every town of 

 the United Kingdom. It is easy to name, at 

 least, dozens of places in London where many 

 dozens of men congregate at night for the purpose 

 of recreation — every man with pipe or cigar 



* Johnston, ' Chemistry of Life.' 



