SCIENCE. 



*571 



Science, posed to the heat of an Argand's lamp, not exceeding 

 Curioitiei -,00.-. Tin- nitrous i.\ide is disengaged along with 



watery vapour whirh n>n. lenses in the neck l 

 "" V "" ' tort, while the #as is received over water. Jt i ge- 

 nerally white, and tlu-refore when it is to he u-rd i.u- 

 the purpose of respiration, it should be permitted to 

 remain ut least an hour in contact with water, which 

 will absorb the small quantity of nitrate of ammonia 

 and of acid which adheres to it. In this way about 

 five cubic feet of gas will be got from about a pound of 

 the nitrate. 



The curious property which this gas possesses of pro- 

 ducing, when inhaled, a very remarkable specie* of 

 intoxication, was discovered by Sir H. Davy. " I 

 breathed," says Sir Humphry, " three quarts of nitrous 

 oxide from, and into a silk bag for more than half a 

 minute, without previously closing my nose or ex- 

 hausting my lungs. The first inspiration caused a 

 slight degree of giddiness. This was succeeded by an 

 uncommon sense of fullness of the head, accompanied 

 with loss of distinct sensation and voluntary power, a 

 feeling analogous to that produced in the first stage of 

 intoxication, but unattended by pleasurable sensation." 

 In describing the effect of another experiment, he says, 

 " having previously closed my nostrils, and exhausted 

 my lungs, I breathed four quarts of nitrous oxide 

 from, and into a silk bag. The first feelings were simi- 

 lar to those produced in the last experiment, but in 

 less than half a minute, the respiration being continued, 

 they diminished gradually, and were succeeded by a 

 highly pleasurable thrilling, particularly in the chest 

 and the extremities. The objects around me became 

 dazzling, and my hearing more acute. Towards the 

 last respiration the thrilling increased, the sense of mus- 

 cular power became greater, and at last an irresistible 

 propensity to action was indulged in. I recollect but 

 indistinctly what followed ; I knew that my motions 

 were varied and violent. These effects very soon 

 ceased after respiration. In ten minutes I had re- 

 covered my natural state of mind. The thrilling in 

 the extremities continued longer than the other sensa- 

 tions. This experiment was made in the morning ; no 

 languor or exhaustion was consequent, my feelings 

 through the day were as usual, and I passed the night 

 in undisturbed repose." 



Soon after Sir H. Davy made these experiments, 

 the nitrous oxide was inhaled by various persons with 

 various effects. In some it produced convulsion; in 

 others it attacked the intellectual functions ; in many 

 it produced an irresistible propensity to muscular ex- 

 ertion ; and in some it had no sensible effect, though 

 breathed perfectly pure and in considerable quantities. 



Two very remarkable cases which occurred among 

 his own students, at Yale College, have been recorded 

 by Professor Silliman, who witnessed the effects that 

 were produced. 



" A gentleman about 19 years of age, of a sanguine 

 temperament and cheerful temper, and in the most per- 

 fect health, inhaled the gas, which was prepared and 

 administered in the usual dose and manner. Imme- 

 diately his feelings were uncommonly elevated, so that, 

 as he expressed it, he could not refrain from dancing 

 and shouting. To such a degree was he excited that he 

 was thrown into a frightful delirium, and his exertions 

 became so violent that he sunk to the earth exhausted ; 

 and having there remained till he in some degree re- 

 covered his strength, he again rose only to renew the 

 most convulsive muscular efforts, and the most piercing 

 gcreams and cries, until, overpowered by the intensity 



of the paroxysm*, he again fell to the ground, apptrtrnt- 

 ly senseles* and panting vehement! he space of 

 t u o hours these symptoms continued ; he was perfectly 

 uiMunsciousof what he wav doing, and wa* in every 

 respect like a maniac : he states, however, that hit j eel. 

 itigt vibrated between perfect happineM and (be mo* 

 IH1I..U- misery. After the first violent effort* had 

 subsided, he was obliged to lie down two or three 

 time* from excess of fatigue, although he wat immedi- 

 ately aroused upon any one entering the room. These 

 efforts remained in a degree for two or three day*, ac- 

 companied by a hoarseness which he attributed to the 

 exertions made when he was under the influence of the 

 gas. 



The other case was that of a man of maturer age, 

 and of a grave character. For nearly two years pre- 

 vious to his taking the gas his health had been very de- 

 licate, and his mind so gloomy and depressed that he 

 was obliged almost entirely to discontinue hi* studies. 

 In this state of debility he inhaled about three quart* 

 of the nitrous oxide. The consequence* were, an asto- 

 nishing invigoration of his whole system, and the most 

 exquisite perception of delight. These were manifest- 

 ed by an uncommon disposition for mirth and plea- 

 santry, and extraordinary muscular power. The effect* 

 of the gas were felt without diminution for at least 

 thirty hours, and in a greater or less degree for more 

 than a week ; but the most remarkable effect was upen 

 the organ of taste. Before taking the gas, he felt no 

 peculiar choice in the articles of food, but immediately 

 after he manifested a iasiefor such things only as were 

 fivect, and for several days he ate nothing but sweet cake. 

 Indeed this singular taste was carried to such excess, 

 that he used &uar and molasses not only upon ftit bread 

 and butler and lighter food, but upon his meat and vege- 

 tables, and this he continues to do at the present time, 

 although nearly eight days have elapsed since he in- 

 haled the gas. His health and spirits since that time 

 have been uniformly good, and he attributes the re- 

 storation of his strength and mental energy to the in- 

 fluence of the nitrous oxide. He is quite regular in 

 his mind, and now experiences no uncommon exhila- 

 ration but is habitually cheerful, while before he was 

 habitually grave, and even to a degree gloomy. 



17- To produce ajine purple gas from Iodine. 



Iodine is a very remarkable substance, obtained from 

 kelp, the properties of which has been very fully de- 

 tailed in our article on IODINE, vol. xii. p. 191. If we 

 take some of the crystals of this substance, and put them 

 in a glass tube, about S-4ths of an inch wide, or indeed 

 any width, and four or five inches long, and then hold 

 the tube to the fire, the crystals of iodine will evaporate 

 into a fine purple gas which fills the tube. As soon as 

 the tube cools the gas again deposits itself in small 

 crystals. 



18. Remarkable explosion of gas tit a well. 



In our article on Coal MINKS, we have already given 

 an account of some of those numerous explosions of 

 carburetted hydrogen gas, which sometimes take place 

 in coal mines ; and of the beautiful safety lamp of Sir 

 H. Davy, by the use of which these explosions may 

 be guarded against. 



In the course of the present year a phenomenon of a 

 very remarkable kind, and the more remarkable for its 

 being entirely unexpected, and without any example, 

 took place near Edinburgh, on the 28th April 1825. The 

 following distinct account of it by Mr John Coldstream, 



To produce 

 a fine pur- 

 ple gas from 



Remark. 



able explo- 

 sion of gas 

 in a well. 



