Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-31

Some Strange Things Science Teaches Ui
of Its Composition.


of Its Composition.
Science has calculated that an average
cuff of cigar smoke sets free over
1000, 000.0 tiny particles, a Whit
from Pipe liberates over l,8O0, 600, 600
of these particles, and one from
cigarette starts $500. 600, 600 of them
flying through the surrounding atmos-
phere, says the New York Herald. A
very curious fact concerning tobacco
smoke is the remarkable change in
color which it undergoes after entering
the mouth. From the burning end of
cigar the smoke issues in deep blue
threads, while that which is expelled
from the mouth is of decidedly
brownish tint. Sir William Thompson
(Lord Kelvin recently accounted for
this difference by proving that the
minutest particles have an intense
affinity for moisture. From this he
reasoned that wnep tobacco smoke is
drawn into the mouth its smallest
\ particles are Immediately detached
| from the rest by the presence of moist
surfaces, to which they fly and lodge.
Besides particles, smoke contains
several gases and vapors. Though Sir
Walter Raleigh won his famous wager
with Queen Elizabeth, he took no ac-
count Of these when he attempted to
show her the weight of his smoke by
subtracting the weight of the final
ashes from that of the unburned cigar.
| and his demonstration would not hold
good with any scientist of today.
nIt has often been quoted that q grain
Of nicotine administered all at once
would kill the strongest dog, and from
this have been argued its terrible
effects on the body of a human being.
While this statement is undoubtedly
true, it is somewhat misleading. In
order to commit suicide by smoking,
the dog would have to consume over
400 strong cigars, one right after the
other. He could put himself out o.
the world much easier by eating the
boxes.
Whatever the i'll effects of tobacco
when used to excess, in moderation i
acts on an adult as mild sedative. L
is claimed that after the Both year its
use prolongs life and preserves thu
mind, by lessening the bodily func
tions of waste and repair.
EXPERTS say that for smoking Tobacco,
lis one of the least injurious substances
known. Compared with other we'll
, known vegetable substances used TO
| llle bdilic lui puoVi ooptSSo &c 'SiJ 49,
, Opium, without doubt, is most fearful
in its effects, for the drunkenness /
produces ultimately unbalances tn
mind. Next to opium in power ar
, certain kinds of grasses, notable anon
, which is hemp, Which causes intoxica
, tion and anaesthesia.
, Connosseurs of tobacco believe tina
, in the near future low prices for goo
, cigars will effect the extinction c
I domestic skunk cabbage varieties. Wit
the advent OF American colonies in tn
East and West Indies, and reduce
prices on their products, some dealer
expect to see fine cigars selling at tw
and three cents apiece. Already sewers
importinghouses have begun to adyel
tise greatly reduced prices on Port
Rican tobacco, as direct result of th
! war. Several shipments Of Manil
! tobacco and cigars are already on thei
i way from the Philippines, and will b
. rushed into the market in few weeks
: On account of its high flavor and 10
I price, Philippine tobacco is expecte
/ to come into popular favor the instar
it is put on sale in the ordinary reta
/ cigar store.
4 Before the war our tobacco imports
!, tions amounted to- many million
of dollars annually. and economics
r prcphesy that from o purely financii
il point of view the national policy ,
II expansion will be indicated by tt
o resulting boom in the tobacco trade.