An Improved Chemical Compound for Treating Tobacco.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Chemical Compound for Treating Tobacco.
We GEORGE SHRIVER YINGLING of Tiffin in the County of Seneca and State
of Ohio and Joux K. PFALTZGRAFF and GEORGE K. PFALTZGRAFF both of
Jefferson Avenue York City and County State of Pennsylvania all of the United
States of America Gentlemen do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-.
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved compound for treating tobacco and it
bas specially for its object to furnish a composition of matter which will act
chemically upon smoking tobacco to neutralize the nicotine and at the same time
to improve the tobacco by rendering it milder, preventing it from becoming unduly
dry and tasteless and improving its flavour for use in a pipe, or for the fillers of
cigars cigarettes or cheroots.
My improved compound consists of the following ingredients, to wit: gallic
acid, tannic acid, powdered extract of geranium, and powdered extract of
liquorice.
These may be employed in varying proportions to suit the character of the
tobacco to be treated: but for general purposes for treating tobacco of ordinary
grades I have found the ingredients in equal parts, by weight to answer. These
in the form of powder are intimately mixed and may be used in a dry state and
sprinkled over the tobacco or mixed thoroughly therewith-or an infusion or
decoction of the powder may be used and the tobacco dipped therein, or the
tobacco may be sprinkled or sprayed with the infusion or decoction, so as to be
thoroughly permeated thereby, the tobacco being afterwards dried to a proper
extent so as to bring it to a condition for the filling of cigars, cigarettes, and cheroots
or for ordinary smoking purposes.
It is evident that the amount of the infusion employed may be varied indefinitely
without departing from my invention.
For cigars, however, I generally employ the infusion of such strength as to
apply about one ounce of the compound composed of tannic and gallic acids,
pulverized liquorice and geranium to a quantity of tobacco sufficient for five thousand
cigars. The same proportion will also answer for treating the tobacco for general
smoking purposes with the infusion.
Any suitable flavoring material or nervine may be added to the compound if
desired to further improve the smoking qualities of the tobacco.
The chemical action of my improved compound in connection with the tobacco
during smoking is as follows:-
The gallic acid during the burning gives out carbonic acid gas which neutralises
the ammonia developed in the burning tobacco, while the tannic acid neutralises
the alkaloid nicotine of the tobacco. The liquorice extract serves to prevent the
tobacco from becoming too dry and holds the tannic and gallic acids therein
before smoking and takes away the bitter acid taste, if any, on the tip or end
of cigar placed in the smoker's mouth, besides imparting a pleasant flavour, and
tending to modify the smoke products, rendering them less acid and the tobacco
consequently sweeter and milder.
When employing a flavoring material with the compound, I prefer to use the
tincture of tolu and valerian, combined or separated, as they are harmless and
pleasant.
An infusion of gall gathered from the oak trees of this country may be added
to the compound, if desired, where very rank tobacco is employed, to further
neutralize the nicotine and ammonia or an infusion or decoction of oakbark may be

page_text: employed as it contains the tannic and gallic acid properties and is less expensive
than either of the other acids proposed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
A compound, to be applied to smoking tobacco consisting of the following
ingredients:gallic acid, tannic acid extract of geranium, and extract of liquorice
in about the proportions set forth whereby the alkaloid of the tobacco, and the
ammonia produced in burning the same are neutralized, and the deleterious effects
of the tobacco lessened, substantially as specified.
Dated this 9th day of September 1892.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.