Biographical Memoir of Sir Humphry Davy, 7 



It was in the Pneumatic Institution that Davy discovered, 

 in 1799, the properties of nitrous oxide gas^ or as it is now 

 called, protoxide of azote, and the extraordinary effects it pro- 

 duces on certain organizations *. Many persons on inhaling it 

 experience only uneasiness and symptoms of asphyxia ; others 

 are affected with decided asphyxia ; but in some it produces 

 intoxication of a peculiar kind, exciting sensations of the most 

 delicious nature, and so superior to all other kinds of pleasure, 

 that they would permit themselves to die in that state without 

 making the slightest effort to escape from it. 



It is easy to imagine the eagerness with which this new man- 

 ner of producing intoxication was received in a country where 

 the old method was practised to a much greater extent than at 

 present, as it led to the hope of an agreeable variation in an en- 

 joyment become too monotonous ; the name of the young che- 

 mist of Penzance was therefore speedily popular throughout the 

 three kingdoms. 



In order to do him full justice, however, it must be added, 

 that the courage which he had shewn was not less remarkable 

 than the singularity of the discovery. He gives a fearful de- 

 scription of the state into which it threw him. The loss of vo- 

 luntary motion did not at first diminish his sensations ; he saw 

 and heard all that was going on around him ; but in proportion 

 as the species of asphyxia increased, he lost the power of per- 

 ceiving external things ; a crowd of images rose in his mind, and 

 he seemed to be making discoveries, and forming theories of the 

 most sublime description. But let it not be supposed that this 

 mode of intoxication more than any other can teach any thing 

 new. When a friend snatched from him the receiver of the 

 dangerous gas, his first words were only the old formula of 

 idealism, Nothing' exists hut tlumght ; the universe is composed 

 only of impressions and ideas of pleasure and pain. This 

 system had been long the subject of his thoughts. He made 

 a still more dangerous experiment by respiring carbonic gas, 

 but it produced only pain and depression ; and it is not impro- 



• Researches, chemical and philosophical, chiefly concerning nitrous oxide 

 and its respiration. 8vo. London, 1800. Translated into French, Annates 

 de Chxmie, torn. xli. p. 305 ; xlii. p. 33 and 276 ; xliii. p. 97 and 324 ; xliv. 

 p. 43 and 210 ; xlv p. 97 and 169 ; also into Bibliothcque Britanrnqtie, torn, xix. 

 XX. xxi. 



