Abstract: A ventilation-characteristic measuring apparatus includes a ventilation vessel include of first, second and third cylindrical containers which are airtightly and detachably fitted to one another, and a hoisting and lowering apparatus for hoisting and lowering the third cylindrical container relative to the first and second cylindrical containers. The first, second and third cylindrical containers cooperate with test-piece holding members of test-piece supporting devices to define three airtight chambers. Ventilation characteristics of a cigarette is measured based on a flow rate of air entering into a filter portion of the cigarette disposed in a second airtight chamber and that of air entering into the shredded tobacco of the cigarette disposed in a third airtight chamber as a first airtight chamber on the filter side is evacuated.

Abstract: The automatic pretreatment system for analyzing component of a specimen includes a pouring section for pouring a predetermined solvent into a distribution vial in which the specimen is accommodated, a shaking section for shaking the distribution vial after the solvent is poured, and a distribution section for distributing the specimen liquid in the distribution vial into one or more test vials after shaking. The sending and receiving of the vial between each of the sections, the supply of the test vial into the distribution section, and treatment in each of the sections are carried out automatically.