64 PROTOXIDE OF NITROGEN AS AN ANAESTHETIC. 
medicine not voting. It seemed to be held by the other 
delegates (as we understand what transpired) that the previous 
decision of the Medico-Chirurgical Society was almost binding 
upon this question ; at least, that the question practically 
related to an existing society of medicine and surgery, the 
interests of whose members, within certain limits, had to be 
considered : the question was not one of pure principle. 
The proposition of the obstetrical delegates (on the assump- 
tion that a guinea was to be the minimum subscription), if 
accepted, would have done injustice to the fellows of 
the Medico-Chirurgical Society, and would have brought 
about no benefit for the members of the Obstetrical Society. 
A counter proposition that obstetrics should be joined to the 
section of medicine and surgery was also negatived. With 
the exception of the section on anatomy and physiology, 
which was unanimously condemned, the different sections 
were adopted as proposed in the resolutions. 
The meeting then adjourned. At the next meeting of the 
committee the question of finance will be entered upon 
formally, and the practicability of amalgamation probably be 
determined. — Lancet . 
PROTOXIDE OE NITROGEN AS AN ANAESTHETIC. 
M. Jeannel, the distinguished Professor of Pharmacy 
and Materia Medica of Bordeaux, has just brought forward 
a valuable memoir on the subject of protoxide of nitrogen. 
We extract from this work those of the author's conclusions 
which more particularly relate to the anaesthetic properties 
of the gas : — 
1. The purified gas, such as is employed at present, does 
not produce those exhilarating effects which have been 
described by authors of the commencement of the century. 
2. Anaesthesia produced by protoxide of nitrogen is not 
so complete as that brought on by chloroform ; but it differs 
essentially therefrom by the rapidity of invasion, the absence 
of excitement at the outset, and the facility with which one 
returns to the normal condition. It produces also a more 
decided kind of asphyxia. 
3. It is of convenient application to operations of a 
short duration ; and it is probable that the agent may be 
applied to the more important surgical operations, by pre- 
serving a suitable interval between the inhalations. 
4. We are justified in saying that protoxide of nitrogen 
exposes less than chloroform to a fatal accident, but it 
