Tobacco Documents Online

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ID NUMBER *01055836 (R) 01146953 (R) 01150113 (R) 01150114-0115A (R) 04364078 (R) * = Produced (R) = Referenced 89749545

*potassium iodate - a compound, K14 in the treatmen membranes. source of iodine e - a compound, Ki used as fungal agent and also hyperthyroidism. as a topical antiseptic of the mucous i feed as a expectorant, anti- he treatment of 89749544 -3-

~ Dr. Morris Fishbein, a medicall consultant to Lorillard. (4315fl113-f}Il5A). A research grant was to be awarded to explore the possible use of antibiotics to reduce the nicotine content of tobacco. A brief letter dated March 30, 1955 from Dr. Parmele to Dr. Fishbein acknowledged this news release. Dr. Parme3.e remarked that genetically bred tobacco with a low nicotine content lost most of its flavor but, since this was a new method, Lorillard would follow the progress of this new nicotine reduction method with interest. (01146953). One could surmise from these documents that Lorillard was aware that nicotine reduction would result in a milder tobacco, and that attempts att such reduction had been explored. I believe it reasonable to say that Lorillard appeared open- minded and willing to investigate any propositions they came upon, providing they were of a scientifically rational nature. From the documents compiled by a relatively thorough computer database search, it appears Pfizer's communications were mostly unsolicited and that Lcsrillard never engaged in any serious attempts at investigating sub;ect matter relative to these documents. 89749543

CHARLES PFIZER AND COMPANY, INCORPORATED ' On February 15, 1950, Dr. H. B. Parmele of Lorillard wrote a letter to Mr. H. A. Kent, then President of Lorillard, regarding Charles Pfizer and Company, Incorporated. Mr. Kent had received a recuest for information from Pfizer concerning the substitution of potassium iodide for potassium iodate.* It seemed ~he Riggrio Tobacco Company used potassium iodide in their cig~rettes to "combat the harmful effects of nicotine," and were inquiring whether the substitution of potassium iodate for potassium iodide would be possible. (04364078). Mr. Kent had sent the correspondence to Dr. Parmele requesting he address this question and also-remark upon exploring the validity of such a treatment. Dr. Parmele assured Mr. Kent that using these salts for therapeutic benefits (throat irritation?) had no sound scientific basis. Although obviously ready to comply with a request by Mr. Kent for further study, Dr. Parmele's advice was to discourage any investigation along these lines. The next documents faundd are dated two years later (March 12, 1952). Pfizer had written to Lorillard requesting information on the use of citric acid in chewing tobacco. (41t15583fi). Lorillard informed Pfizer that citric acid might be employed for reasons of taste and for changing cane sugar into invert syrup. Furthermore, Dr. Parmele explained, in reference to smoking tobacco rather than chewing tobacco, that when nicotine reacted with citric acid to form a salt, it became less volatile than free nicotine and was less apt to come over in the smoke. This resulted in a milder tobacco. (01055836). Dated eight months later, another document was found regarding citric acid treatment of tobacco. Apparently this treatment was still being explored by Pfizer. Dr. Parmele received, seemingly unsolicited, two samples of tobacco from Pfizer; one treated with citric acid, the other untreated. These samples were analyzed for their nicotine content by illard. The untreated sample was unusually high in ine content while the citric acid treated tobacco was r than normal. It was stated that the citric treated sample had "other unusual properties;" this was not elaborated upon. Although Dr. Parmele invited Mr. Jay Lilker (Pfizer) to discuss the citric acid treatment futher, Lorillard did not appear overly enthusiastic. The latest documents found with reference to Pfizer are dated approximately three years later. A news release by the President of Pfizer regarding the application of antibiotics to growing plants was sent to Dr. Parmele by 89749542