176 The Soverane Herbe 



that in the former a considerable quantity of the oil 

 is kept back in the U-shaped part of the pipe, while 

 in the latter the oil travels easily down the stem. 

 Ebonite stems are in general objectionable, because 

 they commonly spoil the true flavour of tobacco 

 smoke. We know instances where ebonite stems 

 have produced distinctly objectionable symptoms in 

 the throat. Bone or real amber makes a much more 

 satisfactory stem, or the pipe should be of wood 

 throughout. Amber substitutes, and especially cel- 

 luloid, should be discarded entirely as dangerous. 

 Pipes of special construction cannot be regarded 

 with much favour, such as those which are said to 

 be hygienic and usually contain a so-called nicotine 

 absorber. Those smokers who require such auxiliary 

 attachments had better not smoke at all.' 



The Lancet's condemnation of hygienic pipes 

 accords with the opinion of all true smokers, by 

 whom they are regarded as beneath contempt. A 

 man who smokes a hygienic pipe would only kiss 

 his wife through a respirator, lest her salute should 

 convey disease-germs into his system. 



Pipes should be cleaned regularly after each smoke, 

 and the ' dottle ' of tobacco removed, otherwise it 

 will become sour. The Mexican has a simple and 

 economical method of cleaning his pipe. Filling the 

 bowl with brandy, he stirs the liquid until it is thick 

 with the reeking tobacco-oils, and then tosses the 

 broth down his throat with a smack of the lips that 

 tells of supreme gusto. 



It would be useless to recommend this mode to 

 English smokers. Of other ways the thrusting of a 



