That built-in moisture is what keeps the tobacco burning at a controlled rate instead of racing through the leaf
Smokeless tobacco dependence managed by Phosphorous in LM potency - A case report Sreeja Kudukayil Radhakrishnan Nair, Nisma Kalaripparambil Ummar Journal of Integrated Standardized Homoeopathy 14
Schaf described the difficult task of pipe making without the proper tools: We had no lathe, no imported briar wood from which to fashion the pipe, in fact we had nothing at all with which to fashion our tobacco burners, but we knew we wanted them, and when you want something badly enough, you usually manage somehow to obtain it, even though you are in a prison camp far from civilization with its refinements, modern conveniences, and ample equipment for turning out any object, whether it be a shelf for the kitchen, a new handle for the hoe, or a smoking pipe
Did he even have a choice in the matter
House of Lords, London Jacob M (1985) Superman versus Nick OTeena childrens anti-smoking campaign