RESPIRATION OF NITROUS OXIDE. 225 



XV. 



On the EJeSts of the Refpiration of the Nitrous Oxide; particu- 

 larly an Injiance in which the Excitation of the Syjlem produced 

 unpleafant Symptoms. In a Letter from Mr. J ames Stodart. 



To Mr. NICHOLSON. 

 SIR, 



A HE firft opportunity I had of breathing nitrous oxide was Effefts of 

 in the month of June laft, in company with Mr. Davy, in the J|^„ s n f x ^ 

 laboratory of the Royal Inftitution. My curiofity had previ- 

 oufly been much excited by what I had read and heard on the 

 fubject. I began breathing rather fceptically, but my doubts 

 were foon removed. A flight degree of giddinefs was fol- 

 lowed by a pleafing thrilling and fenfe of warmth over the 

 body ; but not being ufed to breathe through a tube, and at 

 the fame time a little alarmed, I fuffered a fmall quantity of 

 common air to pafs into the lungs, and by thus diluting the gas 

 its powerful action was fufpended. This firft attempt increafed 

 my defire to breathe it in a pure ftate ; and a few days after* 

 wards I had another opportunity, in the company of the fame 

 gentleman. After exhaufting the lungs by a forced expira- 

 tion, and comprefliiig the noftrils, I began breathing as before. 

 The air tafted diftinctly fweet j the flight giddinefs was, as be^ Tafteof the gas, 

 fore, quickly fucceeded by fenfations very difficult to be de- l ine s * 

 fcribed. I nearly loft fight of all fenfible objects, and felt as 

 if in a moft delightful dream. On recovering from this trance- Delirium, 

 like ftate, my firft feeling was certainly a fentiment of pride 

 or difdain. — I could with difficulty defcend to notice the 

 objects around me. This emotion was fucceeded by an irre- Recovery, 

 fiftible propenfity to mufcular action, in which I indulged Irrefiftible pro- 

 myfelf, by walking or rather ftamping about the laboratory. cufar'a&ionT " 

 It was in the morning that this experiment was made, and 

 during the remainder of the day I felt highly exhilirated. In 

 the evening I again breathed a quantity of the gas with nearly 

 the fame confequenees. I found it impoflible to refift the 

 ftrong propenfity to active exertions. At night I went to bed No depreflion 

 as ufual, and after found fleep I awoke in the morning more followe •' 

 than ufually chearful. 



Vol.T. — March. Q I 



