53 
pounds, nicotine contributing in a certain measure to the formation of 
these.! 
It was observed by Jenkins, Behrens, Kissling, and others that a 
certain amount of nicotine (one-fourth to one-third) is destroyed by 
the process of sweating; hence it is natural to connect the formation of 
aromatic products with the disappearance of a certain portion of the 
nicotine. Cured tobacco rich in nicotine may, by a thorough sweat, 
become poor in nicotine and rich in aroma, while after an insufficient 
sweat it will be rich in nicotine but poor in aroma. 
It is a well-known fact that a high content of nicotine in a cigar is 
often associated with a poor aroma. Strong cigars are not always the 
best. But all attempts to produce by partial oxidation of nicotine sub- 
stances of an aroma similar to that of good cigars have thus far failed. 
By moderate oxidation, as brought on by silver oxide or hydrogen 
peroxide, nicotyrine and oxynicotine result, while by a more powerful 
oxidation nicotic acid is formed—products which have no relation to the 
odor and aroma of sweated tobacco. The writer has also applied plati- 
num-black as an oxidizing agent. It was left to act for several weeks 
on a 4-per-cent aqueous solution of nicotine at the ordinary temperature 
as well as at about 50° C., but the desired effect was not observed, 
although the nicotine became much altered. Evidently the oxidation, 
caused by the oxidizing enzyms in the sweating heaps, takes a different 
direction. 
Recent investigations of Thoms” have shown that the flavor of the 
tobacco smoke is chiefly due to an ethereal oil which is produced by dry 
distillation in the process of smoking from a product of the sweat. 
Twenty kilos of tobacco, smoked by an aspirator, yielded 75 grams of 
this oil, which was of a stupefying odor and produced headache and 
trembling of the limbs when inhaled in a concentrated state. It con- 
tained, among other things, 9 grams of a phenol of creosote-like odor. 
The best method of avoiding the poisonous action of the tobacco | 
smoke while enjoying its beneficial stimulating effects is found with 
the Turks, Arabs, and Persians. The use of a wash bottle (nafas) 
before the smoke reaches the mouth removes a great deal of the poison- 
ous products. Géorgiades found that each 18 grams of tobacco (a 
pipe full) showed 0.947 gram nicotine, the nafas through which this 
quantity of tobacco was smoked showed 0.595 gram nicotine, while the 
washed smoke from same amount contained but 0.0225 gram. 
INJURY TO THE AROMA. 
The aroma may be injured by various causes, as, for example, by a 
high content of fat or of protein in the tobacco. Certain tobaccos which 
‘Opinions as to the formation of the aroma are much divided. Van Bemmelen 
(Landw. Vers. Stat. 37, 388) holds that the organic acids of the leaves have a 
certain influence. 
*Chem.-Zeitg., 1899., No. 80. 
