Smoking: The Strickman Filter

After eight years' work in his home laboratory, an obscure New Jersey chemist last week claimed a grand prize in cigarette research: a filter that removes two-thirds of the tar and nicotine that now drifts past conventional filters, yet does not destroy the tobacco taste. Robert L. Strickman, 56, had impressive backing for his discovery. With full fanfare, it was announced by Columbia University's president, Grayson Kirk, and Dr. H. Houston Merritt, dean of Columbia's College of Physicians and Surgeons. Reason: Chemist Strickman gave Columbia the rights to the filter —a gift that may well bring the university millions...

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