368 Experiment on Respiration which had nearly proved fatal. 
ingenious and able assistant to Mr. Professor Higgins, a series of 
experiments on its respiration were proposed. Mr, Wharmby 
first noticed some points of resemblance it bore to the nitrous 
oxide, particularly the singularly sweetish taste, and, having made 
two or three inspirations, was seized with a degree of convulsive 
tremor and giddiness that nearly overpowered sensibility. These 
violent effects were but transient, though considerable languor, 
head-ache, and debility, remained for many hours’ afterwards. 
Anxious to pursue the experiment still further, I next made 
three or four hearty inspirations of the gas, having first exhausted 
my lungs of common air as completely as possible. The effects 
were an inconceivably sudden deprivation of sense and volition. 
I fell supine and motionless on the floor, and continued in a state 
of total insensibility for nearly half an hour, apparently lifeless, 
pulsation being nearly extinct. Several medical gentlemen being 
present, various means were employed for my restoration, with- 
out. success ; when the introduction of oxygen: gas by com- 
pression into the hings was suggested, the effects of which may 
be fairly contrasted with those of the carbonic oxide. A very ra- 
pid return of animation ensued, though accompanied by convul- 
sive agitations, excessive head-ache, and quick irregular pulsation, 
and, for some time after mental recovery, total blindness, ex- 
treme sickness and vertigo, with alternations of heat and shiver- 
ing Gold, were painfully experienced. These unfavourable spasms 
were succeeded by an unconquerahle propensity to sleep, which, 
as might be expected, was broken and feverish. An emetic of 
tartarised antimony finally removed these alarming symptoms, 
and the only unpleasant effects felt on the ensuing day were those 
occasioned by the fall. 
{ very much regret that the confusion arising from the idea of 
my death, so disturbed the arrangement that no accurate deter- 
mination could afterwards be made, either of the quantity of gas 
respired, or the change it underwent in the process; and the ex- 
periment is rather too hazardous for repetition. Nevertheless, 
the extraordinary efficacy of oxygen gas in cases of suspended 
animation produced by carbonic acid, choke damps, and other 
suffocating gases, is fairly deducible, and, I conceive, cannot be 
too forcibly recommended to the faculty, in such instanceg. | 
therefore sincerely hope that the results of this experiment may 
be of practical utility in those cases, which are so frequently occur- 
ring, and are often so awfully fatal; it being the decided opinion of 
the professional gentlemen present on this occasion, that the free 
use of the oxygen gas was solely instrumental in restoring me to life. 
Mr. Higgins himself had nearly once fallen a victim to a similar 
experiment with sulphuretted hydrogen, the effects of wie 
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