The effect of the first inspirations of the nitrous oxide was that of
making me vertiginous, and producing a tingling sensation in my hands
and feet: as these feelings increased, I seemed to lose the sense of
my own weight, and imagined I was sinking into the ground. I then
felt a drowsiness gradually steal upon me, and a disinclination to
motion; even the actions of inspiring and expiring were not performed
without effort: and it also required some attention of mind to keep
my nostrils closed with my fingers. I was gradually roused from this
torpor by a kind of delirium, which came on so rapidly that the air-bag
dropt from my hands. This sensation increased for about a minute after
I had ceased to breathe, to a much greater degree than before, and I
suddenly lost sight of all the objects around me, they being apparently
obscured by clouds, in which were many luminous points, similar to what
is often experienced on rising suddenly and stretching out the arms,
after sitting long in one position.
I felt myself totally incapable of speaking, and for some time lost all
consciousness of where I was, or who was near me. My whole frame felt
as if violently agitated: I thought I panted violently: my heart seemed
to palpitate, and every artery to throb with violence; I felt a singing
in my ears; all the vital motions seemed to be irresistibly hurried on,
as if their equilibrium had been destroyed, and every thing was running
headlong into confusion. My ideas succeeded one another with extreme
rapidity, thoughts rushed like a torrent through my mind, as if their
velocity had been suddenly accelerated by the bursting of a barrier
which had before retained them in their natural and equable course.
This state of extreme hurry, agitation, and tumult, was but transient.
Every unnatural sensation gradually subsided; and in about a quarter of
an hour after I had ceased to breathe the gas, I was nearly in the same
state in which I had been at the commencement of the experiment.
I cannot remember that I experienced the least pleasure from any of
these sensations. I can however, easily conceive, that by frequent
repetition I might reconcile myself to them, and possibly even receive
pleasure from the same sensations which were then unpleasant.
I am sensible that the account I have been able to give of my feelings
is very imperfect. For however calculated their violence and novelty
were to leave a lasting impression on the memory, these circumstances
were for that very reason unfavourable to accuracy of comparison with
sensations already familiar.
The nature of the sensations themselves, which bore greater resemblance
to a half delirious dream than to any distinct state of mind capable
of being accurately remembered, contributes very much to increase the
difficulty. And as it is above two months since I made the experiment,
many of the minuter circumstances have probably escaped me.
I remain,
Yours, &c.
P. ROGET.
To MR. DAVY.