The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-12-01

body, remains in the pipe: the empyreumatic
substance is volatile body of an ammonjscal
nature OF the composition OF which the Doc
tor confesses himself unacquainted, but which
we have ventured to consider as resin. What
ever II Is, 1t Is that which gives the smoke OF
tobacco us peculiar odor, and determines the
flavor OF cigar. 1t adheres powerfully 10
woollen materials, and when concentrated has
most obnoxious and intolerable smell. The
bitter substance is resinous and of dark color,
probably having an alkaloid as its base. 1t
is not volatile, and only leaves the pipe or CT
gar by being carried along in fluid FORM"
saThe varieties of tobacco are innumerable.
Simple tobacco that has not undergone fer
mentation yields very little free carbon, much
ammonia. carbonic acid, little water, small
quantity Of the empyreams and an equally
small quantity of bitter extract. Caysndish
varies considerably in its constituents; pigtail
yields all very abundantly; the little Swiss CT
gars yield enormous quantities OF ammonia,
and so dry the mouth; Manilas give very lit
tie. The Connecticut tobacco is comparative
ly mild in taste, from the absence of the bitter
extract.
The water vapor of smoke is not!iujurious !,
but the carbon in it settles on the mucous mem
brane and irritates the throat. The narcotic
effect of tobacco smoke, if received into the
lungs, resides in the carbonic acid; the am.
monia causes dryness, biting of the mucous
membrane of the throat, and an increased
flow of saliva-experience familiar to smok ers
Absorbed into the blood, says DIR. Richardson,
it renders the fluid too thin, causing an angu-
larity of the blood corpuscles, suppression OF
the hillary secretion and yellowness of skin,
quickening and then reducing the action OF
the heart. In young smokers it produces nau-
sea.
The empyreumatic substance seems to have
little effect except in giving the peculiar taste
to tobacco smoke, and after while of making
the breath of smokers unbearable. "Nicotine
is rarely ever imbibed by the cleanly smoker
says DIR. Richardson. 1t affects only those
who smoke cigars by holding them in the
mouth, or dirty pipes saturated with oily mat
ter When absorbed, its effects are injurious,
such as palpitation of the heart, tremor and
unsteadiness of the muscles, and great pros
tration. 1t will not, Of itself, produce vomit-
ing; it is the bitter extract which is the cause
of this imperceptibly swallowed and taken
into the stomach.
The method of smoking makes all the diff
ference in the world. Those who use the
clean, long pipes of clay feel only the effect OF
the gaseous bodies and the free carbon. Wood
en- pipes and pipes with glass stems are ipjur-
ious. Cigars should never be smoked to the
end; otherwise they are more injurious than
ALL DIR. Richardson says they should be cast
aside as soon as one-half is smoked, and al
ways smoked from porous or absorbent
tube. Pipes arc much less hurtful than cigars
The best pipe is long clay pipe; next to this
the meerschaum is most wholesome. DIR
Richardson says, the perfection OF pipe will
be found in a meerschaum bowl, an amber
mouth piece and clay stem. All attempts al
| pipes to condense the oil have thus far failed.
Every smoker should be careful of the manner
in which he smokes. A short foul pipe is very
unhealthful.