meters of beef extract solution which had been 
richly inoculated with bacteria from decayed 
teeth. Arnold, Lancet (London, 1907) re- 
ports similar experiences with some of the most 
virulent types of infective bacteria. 
Both nicotine and its derivative pyridine as 
well as the tarry oils resulting from tobacco 
distillation are strong and effective disinfect- 
ants; and formaldehyde, one of the most power- 
ful germicides known, is so formed. Trillat, 
Annales de VInstitut Pasteur (Paris), Vol. 19, 
p. 722, shows that 100 grams of pipe tobacco 
will yield .063 grams and 100 grams weight of 
cigar .118 grams of formaldehyde. Also that 
a dilution of 1/1000 formaldehyde is germicidal 
to all bacteria although it has very little dele- 
terious effects on man. 
As far as can be ascertained there has not 
been very much investigation for the purpose of 
demonstrating the actual results of clinical ex- 
perience regarding the antiseptic qualities of 
tobacco in the case of smokers, but facts, so 
far as they have been recorded, bear out the 
experiments. Rideal Disinfection and Preser- 
vation of Food (London and New York, 1908) 
states that the investigations of Tessarini 
showed that tobacco smoke passed over the or- 
ganisms of human cholera and pneumonia killed 
them in from 10 to 80 minutes. He also states 
199 
