Remarks on Some or tHE Susstances Founp 
in Tozacco 
Nicotine 
Of all the substances found in tobacco, nico- 
tine is the most important. 
Nicotine in the pure state is a colorless liquid 
having a specific gravity of 1.027. It is an 
organic base having the chemical formula 
Cio His No. It is extremely acid and burning 
to the taste, and is a virulent poison. It easily 
volatilizes; is inflammable, and is soluble in 
water, alcohol, ether and some fixed oils. Nico- 
tine has the characteristic peculiar odor of 
tobacco. 
The amount of nicotine in tobacco is said to 
depend on the nature of the soil in which it is 
grown; rich, heavy soils and strong nitrogenous 
manuring favor the production of a large nico- 
tine content; and light, sandy soils the opposite. 
Moreover the nicotine content depends on the 
age and development of the plant. 
‘An investigation by Chuard and Mellet 
showed nicotine contents of leaves: 
In young plants 7 weeks old contained .038247% 
In plants 10 weeks old contained .... .04477% 
In plants 18 weeks old contained .... .4989% 
In plants 19 weeks old contained .... .9202% 
The longer the plant is permitted to grow the 
larger will be its nicotine content. 
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