I inhaled 6 quarts. Experienced a sensation of fulness in the
extremities and in the face, with a desire and power of expansion of
the lungs very pleasurable. Feelings similar to intoxication were
produced, without being disagreeable. When the bag was taken away, an
involuntary though agreeable laughter took place, and the extremities
were warm.
In about a quarter of an hour after the above experiment, I inhaled
8 quarts. The warmth and fulness of the face and extremities were
sooner produced during the inspiration. The candle and the persons
about me, assumed the same appearances as took place during the effect
produced by wine, and I could perceive no determinate outline. The
desire and power to expand the lungs was increased beyond that in the
former experiment, and the whole body and limbs seemed dilated without
the sense of tension, it was as if the bulk was increased without
any addition to the specific gravity of the body, which was highly
pleasant. The provocation to laughter was not so great as in the former
experiment, and when the bag was removed, the warmth almost suddenly
gave place to a coldness of the extremities, particularly of the hands
which were the first to become warm during the inspiration. A slight
sensation of fulness not amounting to pain in the head, has continued
for some minutes. After the first experiment, a sensation in the wrists
and elbows took place, similar to that produced by the electric shock.
G. C. BEDFORD.
_March 30th, 1800._