Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-02-04
CURRENT MISCELLANY
WHAT WE SMOKE AND CHEW.

Not Always Pure Tobacco, but SomctIme.
sweetened and Medicsted Preparations.
1t is rather late in the day to enter pro
test against the use of tobacco. What
ever the faculty may say on the point of
its injurious qualities, however much the
clergy may point out the possibility OF
its leading to intemperance, the fact re.
mains that a large proportion of the
world uses tobacco in some form OF
other. In spite of all that has been said
against it by fervid anti-tobacconists
pure tobacco is an excellent remedial
agent; but it must be absolutely pure. Nc
poisonous decoctions must eat into its
substance or change its nature. Used in
a proper way, to relieve neuralgia pains
or applied in various affections, under
the advice of skilled physician, it is &
valuable medicine.
The adulteration of tobacco, very com
mon both in this country and abroad
arises from two considerations. The pure
natural leaf, in its yellow hue, is un
doubleday the finest tobacco in the mark
ct. But so many accidents conspire tc
render the finest leaves scarce that even
the natural leaf itself is initiated. Coarse
leaves are bleached by chlorine tc
the bright yellow color of the natural
leaf, and sulphuric acid, properly diluted
is used to make the little "freckles, y
which are supposed by connoisseurs tc
indicate q superior quality of leaf.
But the natural leaf" somehow
doesn't seem to suit the taste Of The aver
age chcwer Of tobacco He asks Ger
tain degree of sweetness in his plug. Tc
fill this bill and create special flavor
which shall give kind Of identity to a
particular brand, and cause it to be Gag
erly sought for is the object of the manu-
facturcr.
When the bundles of steamed leaves
are fully dried they are ready for the ap.
plication of the syrup and licorice, which
imparts to the chewing tobacco of com.
merce its sweetness and flavor. The
leaves must be as dry as bone when
subjected to this licorice bath, for the
least dampness vii render them white
with mould in few hours. This mould
is removed Zone of the adulterations) by
dip into diluted muriatic acid, and in
too many cases forms part of the solid
cake of better quality. The heat OF
the mixture causes the pores of the leaf
to expand, and the sweet syrup, pene
trating every fiber, impregnates it thor.
oughly. From the vat the dripping bun
dies are carried out on the flat roof OF
the factory and exposed to the sun, foi
one days sunshine is worth more than
can be told in the manufacture. After
this the leaves are taken into drying
room, where the thermometer during the
day is at 80 degrees. At night the whole
power of the furnace is turned on, and
the heat is so intense that in the morning
the room has to be cooled off before the
operators can enter it. When thel tobac.
co has, under this powerful heat, become
perfectly dry the adulterator gets in his
work
One factory sprinkles it with New
England rum, another uses Jamaica, rum
third moistens it with the rankest corn
whisky he can find. and each brand has
its own peculiar essential oil Some ust
fcnnel, other, ginseng, while the acrid
sumach, abounding in tannin, cheap and
plenty, gives that peculiar burning of the
tongue which characterizes much "finC
cut" Astringent barks, wormwood, the
refuse of the cinchona, and others, give
the bitter taste which some consumers
like, and the twist or negro heads, u
which is largely exported to tropical
climates, gets a special absorption.
A true tobacco cigar is fine in grair
and free from stems The wrapper is
nothing in cigar; the filling is every
thing.
No leaf is worthless for the manufac
ture of one or another of the innumerablt
brands between the golden chaff will
which the millionaire fills his meer
schaum and the laborer his cuddy. Al
most the only chemically pure tobacco il
that which the planter dries himself
spreads on the cotton sheet in the garre
and sends little Tommy to bring him
bunch of-crumbling it between his ting
ers to fill his pipe. But this simplicit!
doesn't please. The public would rathe
be poisoned. .-HeGM and Home.