RESPIRATION OF GASEOUS OXIDE OF AZOTE. JJ 



found a remedy in this gas. There are dropfies which doubt- 

 lefs depend on excefs oF exhalant adion. Thefe are eafily 

 diftinguiftted ; and Ihey require bleeding as much as pleurify. 



In debility, arifing from refidence in hot climates and from in other ftatcs 

 inlenfe application to bufinefs, I have known gafeous oxide *^ ''''^^'* 

 completely fuccefsful after an infinity of remedies, Balh and 

 other waters, had been tried in vain. 



The particulars of thefe cafes are alfo deftined for publica- 

 tion : But I refolved to wait for fome years after the ufe of 

 iliegas; for I have found that a fingle circumftance vitiates 

 a large proportion of our medical records. Patients after an 

 apparent recovery fall again into the fame complaint; and 

 there are other confiderations, which I (hall for the prefent 

 pafs over. , 



If Mr. Pfaff ufes gafeous oxide in palfy, he will probably Gafeous oxide 

 fooner or later fee a phenomenon as extraordinary as any in taTy%''ovfzr°over 

 galvanifm, and which after it has been defcribed by a philo-paified pans, ' 

 fopher of high repulation, will become equally celebrated. '^^'^^ '"^'^'^'■*' 

 This is the inftanlaneous reftoralion of voluntary power over a 

 limb deprived both of motion and feeling by palfv fucceeding 

 to apoplexy, while the patient is rel'piring gafeous oxide. 

 This was witneffed in common with myfelf, by feveral re- 

 fpe6iable perfons ; and among others by fome of your philo- 

 fophical acquaintance, if I do not miftake. It was in the cafe 

 of Mr. G. a member of the laft parliament, who completely 

 recovered : But as other means were afterwards adopted, I 

 do not impute the refult to the gas, which however, when 

 ufed alorie, was vifibly of great fervice: for I have no idea of 

 claiming for a remedy under fcruliny any cure, if other 

 powers have been called in at the fame time. 



• I tranfmit thefe obfervations to you. Sir, in preference to Firft wlfhed for 

 the Editor of any Medical Journal, becaufe I think them likely ^^^^ of this 

 to meet the eye of Dr. Pfafi' fooner in your Journal. I ftiould 

 be extremely forry that he (hould fet out wrong in his trials, 

 becaufe the fault will be imputed to the p'Aver itfelf, and not 

 to its mifapplication ; and the difabled will flill be left to lan- 

 guilh and be cut off', notvvilhltanding we have a remedy at 

 hand. 



I have another reafon. I moft fincerely wifli any thing I A fecon<3, 

 could fay would haften the period, which 7>itiji arrive, when 

 medical fciencc Qiall not be merely what the Germans call a 



Brad. 



