Tobacco Leaves Part 16

SPECKLED OR SPOTTED CIGARS

Many smokers of cigars have the idea that there is some special virtue in a cigar that shows specks or spots of discoloration in the leaf. As a matter of fact such spots have nothing whatever to do with the quality of the tobacco. The occurrence of such spots is accounted for differently.

Some say the spots are due to certain bacteria which attack the leaf either when growing or fermenting and this most probably is the correct view. Others say that the spots are due to rain drops which, sprinkled on the leaves, act as lenses and concentrate the rays of the sun, thus causing a burning of the leaf in such spots. Some think the spots are caused by a worm. On account of the prejudice of smokers for speckled cigars dealers have been known to produce this appearance in the leaf artificially. There are different methods although resort is not often had at the present time to this practice as the belief in this sign is no longer as prevalent as formerly. The following are examples of such cigar speckling preparation, the chief ingredient being some active oxidizing agent:

Cigar speckling fluid:

(Method 1.) Powdered Ammonium Carbonate and a concentrated solution of (H{2}O{2}).

Dissolve one part of the Ammonium Carbonate in 25 parts of the (H{2}O{2}). Touch the cigar with this in spots with the end of a pointed stick. This gives the appearance of speckled Sumatran leaf.

(Method 2.) The following method is said to be used by a large firm:

Sodium Carbonate--3 parts.

Chlorinated Lime--1 part.

Hot Water--8 parts.

Dissolve the washing soda in the hot water, add the chlorinated lime, and heat to the boiling point. When cool decant and cork tightly. This is sprinkled over the tobacco.--From _American Druggist_, Vol. 83, p. 328.

Specks are sometimes caused by fluids used to destroy insects which attack the cigar after manufacture.

TOBACCO FLAVORING ESSENCES

In the chapter treating of the manufacture of smoking and chewing tobacco it was stated that the tobacco leaf was often treated by certain flavoring essences. The following are quoted as examples of such essences:

Cascarilla Bark--1 ounce.

Fluid Extract Valerian--1 ounce.

Tonka Bean--2 drams.

English Rum--3 ounces.

--From _Pharmaceutical Era_, V. 21, 1899, p. 252.

The following essences are said to be used in France and Germany:

(1) For every 1,000 kilos. of tobacco take 4 kilos. of purified potash; 5 kilos. table salt; 10 kilos. canella water; 10 kilos. rose water; 5 kilos.

melilotte water; 2.8 grams tonka bean; pulverized. Color the whole with 4 grams English red. Add when the tobacco is cut up.

(2) 12 kilos. soda; 4 kilos. salts of tartar; 10 kilos. canella water; 10 kilos. rose water; 5 kilos. melilotte water; 2.8 grams tonka bean; 4 kilos. simple syrup; 5 kilos. French brandy; 6 kilos. red sandal wood.--From _Pharmaceutical Era_, V. 24, p. 67.

CIGAR FLAVORS

Although the best cigars are made from the natural leaf and depend solely on its flavor and aroma, in the inferior article manufacturers sometimes resort to flavoring fluids.

The following examples of cigar flavoring fluid formulae are taken from the _Pharmaceutical Era_, V. 24, p. 455:

_Formula 1._

Extr. Vanilla--1/2 gal.

Alcohol and Jamaica Rum,--each, 1/2 gal.

Tinct. Valerian--8 ounces.

Carraway Seed--2 ounces.

English Valerian Root--2 ounces.

Bitter Orange Peel--2 ounces.

Tonka Bean--4 drams.

Myrrh--16 ounces.

_Formula 2._

Valerianic Acid--3 drams.

Acetic Ether--40 minims.

Butyric Ether--10 minims.

Alcohol--4 pints.

_Formula 3._

Fluid Extr. Valerian--1 ounce.

Tinct. Tonka Bean--8 ounces.

Alcohol--enough to make 16 ounces.

FORMULA TO IMPROVE THE BURNING QUALITIES OF TOBACCO

2 lbs. of Saltpeter.

Half gallon of Alcohol (100% proof).

1 gallon Port Wine.

9 gallons Lukewarm Water.

Mix these ingredients thoroughly together, and add to every 100 lbs.

weight of tobacco.

OVERCOMING DESIRE FOR TOBACCO

(From _The American Druggist_, V. 51, 1908.)

Kalometzer (Bulletin Medical, 1907) states that rinsing mouth with solution of silver nitrate (1/4 of 1% strength) will overcome the desire.

PREVENTING INJURIOUS ACTION OF NICOTINE

A process for the treatment of tobacco leaves preventing in a way injurious action of nicotine and of acrid empyreumatic acid products, was devised some years ago by Professor Gerold of Halle. His process is thus described: He employs for 8 kilograms of tobacco leaves containing the usual percentage of nicotine a decoction prepared by boiling 15 grams of tannic acid with 1-1/2 kilograms of water until the weight is reduced to one kilogram; then 30 grams of the essential oil of origanum vulgare are added, after which the decoction is immediately removed from the fire.

Having stood for some minutes the mixture is filtered and allowed to cool to about 16 C., when the preparation is ready to be spread over the previously weighed tobacco. When the absorption of this mixture by the tobacco leaves is completed, they are subjected to slight pressure and moderate heat, after which they are ready for the manufacture of the various tobacco products.

Tannic acid is a well-known antidote for nicotine poisoning, and it is claimed for Gerold's process that while the undistilled nicotine is neutralized in its toxic qualities only by the tannic acid, that this does not influence at all its peculiar odor nor most of its other characteristics.--From the _Pharmaceutical Era_, July 27, 1899, p. 144.