On Pneumatic Medicine. 363 



-diluted oxygen air^ especially as in the instances where I 

 have known more inspired in the same time, nothing be- 

 yond a sensation similar to the alertness of hcaithy chUdrcu 

 was fdt. (\'ide Letters of Dr. Withering, &c. to Dr. 

 Beddoes, p. 33.) Thus it is a common remark, after 

 coming out of vitiated air in a crowded room, how grute- 

 Jul how reviving is the air ! The western breeze in spring, 

 replete with oxygen air is even a theme for the poet's sonef. 

 There are many who do not feel refreshed unless they use 

 exercise in the open air. Besides the nerves, 



3. That the inhalation of oxygen air acts on the circula- 

 tion, appears to be proved from the following particulars. 

 From experiments with animaU we learn the following very 

 curious facts : — " I observed," says Dr. Beddoes, '' signs of 

 much stronger irritability in the right auricle and ventricle, 

 in the diaphraam and intercostal muscles of the oxygenated 

 rabbit; and, considering thd force and frequency of the co?i- 

 tractions, the quantity of action would have been greater in 

 the oxygenated had the irritability continued five times as 

 lono; in the other. The speedier coagulation of the oxygen- 

 ated venous blood is, I think, also remarkable; and, as it 

 happened in three following experiments, was not acci- 

 dental. There was an alteration made also in the muscular 

 fibre. Several persons, of whom all did not know the one 

 rabbit from the other, found the boiled flesh of the oxy- 

 genated, in both cases, more stringy and harder. The dif- 

 ference was most sensible in the young pair. The greater 

 stringiness was apparent in both these occasions to the eye." 



" In a society for philosophical experiments and conversa- 

 tions, Mr. Taylor's pulse was first felt by Dr. Higgins, and 

 by many other members present with myself. It was only 

 64 previous to his inhaling 19 pints of pure oxygen air, al- 

 though he was healthy, and only 22 years of age. In the 

 minutes of our society, which arc published (see p. 146), 

 it is noted, *^ that during the respiration his pulse was 

 quickened to 90 beats in a minute, and considerably in- 

 creased in strength and fullness ; but he felt no inconvcm- 

 encc whatever. The vessel being charged again with nine- 

 teen pints of oxygen air, he respired these also, and his 

 pulse was now increased to 120 beats in a minute, and 

 vigorous withal : he felt 7/0 inconvenience, but had a sense 

 ot unusual warmth in his lungs. In one hour after the ex- 

 periment, his pulse was returned to 64 beats, as before the 

 experiment." — ^That evening Mr. Taylor appeared to me, 

 and others to be rather in fuller spirits. 



[The subject of the pneumatic practice will be resumed 

 \n the next.] 



hWlU, Notices 



