(From The American Druggist, V. 51, 1908.)
Kalometzer (Bulletin Medical, 1907) states that rinsing mouth with solution of silver nitrate (¼ 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 1½ 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.
Havana cigars are generally better if smoked fresh; domestic cigars are better if allowed to age in the box several months before using.