864 INFLUENCE OF NITROUS OXIDE ON 



that when puppies were kept in hydrogen, nitro- 

 gen, and carbonic acid, until animation was sus- 

 pended, they recovered much sooner in pure 

 oxygen than in common air. (Considerations on 

 the use of factitious airs.) 



At the same time, it must be admitted, that 

 breathing oxygen gas, tends to derange the 

 healthy process of nutrition, by raising the tem- 

 perature of the solids nearly to an equilibrium 

 with that of the arterial blood, and thus dimi- 

 nishes the forces of life, as when the system is 

 immersed in a hot bath, or exposed to the high 

 temperature of tropical climates. It therefore 

 follows, that the respiration of oxygen gas, like 

 the hot bath, should be resorted to only when the 

 temperature and vital activity of the circulation 

 are below the natural standard, when they can- 

 not fail to produce salutary effects. 



The nitrous oxide gas, which contains a much 

 larger proportion of oxygen than common air, and 

 is a more rapid supporter of combustion, also 

 produces corresponding effects on the living body. 

 When inhaled into the lungs, it causes the sen- 

 sation of a warm glow throughout the system, an 

 acceleration of the pulse, an augmentation of 

 muscular power, exhilaration of spirits, with 

 sudden bursts of laughter, increased acuteness of 

 all the senses, and a rapid succession of vivid 

 emotions, especially in persons of the sanguine 

 temperament. But after being breathed for some 



