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 (H₂O₂).

Dissolve one part of the Ammonium Carbonate in 25 parts of the (H₂O₂). 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—½ gal.
Alcohol and Jamaica Rum,—each, ½ 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 (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.

Remember that the phosphorus or sulphur of a match may spoil the flavor of a fine cigar. Be careful when you are lighting it to use only the edge of the match flame.

If the total number of cigars smoked annually in the United States were placed end to end they would encircle the whole world more than twenty times.

INDEX

Air Curing of Leaf, 66

Amber, 162

American Production of Tobacco Other Than in U. S., 35

Analysis of Tobacco, 55

Asia, Production of Tobacco in, 31


Bacterial Diseases, Effects of Tobacco on, 197

Blends of Tobacco, How Made, 78

Briar Root, 158


Cancer and Tobacco, 180

Chemical Constituents of Tobacco, 55

Chewing Tobaccos, 128

Cigar and Cigarette Holders, Value of, 191

Cigar Business in U. S., 96

Cigar Flavors, 215

Cigar Leaf Tobacco Grown in U. S., 119

Cigarette Paper, 139

Cigarette Smoking, Criticisms of, 140

Cigarettes, American, 138

Cigarettes, Kinds of, 134

Cigarettes, Nicotine in Smoke of, 187

Cigarettes, Statistics, 133

Cigarettes, Turkish, 135

Cigarettes, Turkish, Manufactured in the U. S., 137

Cigars, Classification of, 104

Cigars, Composition of, 113

Cigars, Desirable Qualities of, 113

Cigars, Hand-made, 101

Cigars, History, 95

Cigars, Imported Kinds, in U. S., 114

Cigars, Machine-made, 103

Cigars, Manufactured in U. S., 117

Cigars, Speckles or Spots on, 212

Cigars, Statistics of Production and Consumption in U. S., 96

Cigars, Various Terms Regarding, 107

Coloring Meerschaum Pipes, 169

Consumption of Tobacco in U. S., 92

Cuban Cigar Leaf, 118

Cuban Tobacco, 35

Curing of Tobacco Leaf, 63


Digestive System and Use of Tobacco, 202

Diseases of Tobacco Leaf, 211

Disinfecting Action of Tobacco, 199


East Indian Tobacco, 38

Europe, Production of Tobacco, 32

Exportation of Tobacco from U. S., 91

Eyes and Use of Tobacco, 189


Fermentation of Tobacco, Action of Microbes, 81

Fermentation of Tobacco, Chemistry, 80

Fermentation of Tobacco Leaf, 79

Flavoring Essences, 214

Flue Curing of Leaf, 65


Hand-made Cigars, 101

Havana Cigars, 115

Holders for Cigars and Cigarettes, Value of, 191


Infection, Value of Tobacco Smoking Against, 197

Insects Affecting Tobacco Leaf, 211


Life Insurance and Tobacco, 188


Machine-made Cigars, 103

Manufactured Products of Tobacco in U. S., Statistics, 89

Meerschaum, 155

Microbes, Action in Fermentation of Tobacco, 81

Mind, Effects of Tobacco Smoking, 202

Mouthpiece of Pipes, Importance, 161


Nerves, Effect of Tobacco Smoking on, 202

Nicotine, 57

Nicotine, Amount in Tobacco Smoke, 183

Nicotine Contents of Tobaccos, 185

Nicotine Effects on Human System, 182


Open Fire Method of Curing Leaf, 65


Packing of Tobacco Leaf for Market, 69

Perique Tobacco, 50, 125

Philippine Cigars, 117

Pipe Smoking Tobaccos, Kinds of, 124

Pipe Smoking Tobacco, Qualities of, 123

Pipe Stem, Importance, 161

Pipes, Briar Root, Making of, 159

Pipes, Care of, 167

Pipes, History of, 151

Pipes, Importation of, Into U. S., 166

Pipes, Materials Used in Making, 154

Pipes, Meerschaum, Coloring, 169

Pipes, Meerschaum, Making of, 156

Pipes, Special Kinds of, 164

Plug Tobacco for Chewing, 128

Potash, Importance in Tobacco, 59

Psychological Effects of Tobacco Smoking, 202


Rehandling of Tobacco Leaf, 77

Revenue Derived from Tobacco, 209


Shade Grown Tobacco, 25

Smoke, Tobacco, Nicotine in, 187

Snuff, Manufacture, Statistics and Kinds, 145

Soils, Influence on Quality of Tobacco, 22

Suchsland’s Experiments With Bacteria on Tobacco Leaf, 81

Sumatran Cigar Leaf, 118


Teeth and Tobacco, 201

Terms Used in Cigar Trade, 107

Throat Diseases Due to Use of Tobacco, 179

Tobacco, Analysis of Contents, 55

Tobacco, Botanical Information, 15

Tobacco, Burning Qualities of, 216

Tobacco, Culture, 21

Tobacco, Denicotianized, 216

Tobacco, Effects of on Body, 173

Tobacco, Exportation from U. S., 91

Tobacco, Flavoring Essences, 214

Tobacco, Free Importation in Different Countries, 210

Tobacco, History, 13

Tobacco Leaf, Prices of, 71

Tobacco Manufacturing Industry, Capital, etc., 89

Tobacco Plant, Varieties, 16

Treatment of Leaf Before Manufacture, 82

Turkish Tobacco, 34


United States, Production of Tobacco, 41


Varieties, Botanical of, Tobacco Plant, 16

Varieties of American Grown Tobacco Leaf, 44, 46

Vulcanite, as Pipe Stem Material, 163


Warehouse System of Sale of Tobacco Leaf, 70

Water Pipes, 165


Yellowing of Tobacco Leaf, 27

Transcriber’s Note:

Other than the corrections noted by hover information, spelling inconsistencies have been retained from the original.