1908, p. 254), who says: “Tobacco smoke, 
contrary to popular belief, does not contain 
nicotine, which is decomposed by the heat; 
but pyridine and its homologues and the bene- 
ficial effects of tobacco in many cases of asthma 
must be attributed to this latter.” 
The Lancet investigation (see Lancet, Ap. 6, 
1912, pp. 944-94'7) was mode because “a recent 
review of numerous analysis of tobacco which 
have been published from time to time raises 
some doubt as to whether the results given cor- 
rectly represent the actual alkaloidal contents 
of the tobacco.” Moreover, to find the relation- 
ship of the true amount of nicotine in any 
tobacco to that in the smoke produced by the 
combustion of that. tobacco, and any modifica- 
tion caused by the method of smoking. 
The investigation was conducted under the 
strictest conditions, the most recent methods of 
chemical research being employed. 
The following table (given by the Lancet) 
shows the nicotine contents of various tobacco 
samples and the percentage of nicotine in the 
smoke: 
185 
