I will, as you request, endeavour to describe to you the effect
produced on me last Sunday fe’nnight by the nitrous oxide, and will at
the same time tell you what was the previous state of my mind on the
subject.
When I sat down to breathe the gas, I believed that it owed much of
its effect to the predisposing agency of the imagination, and had no
expectation of its sensible influence on myself. Having ignorantly
breathed a bag of common air without any effect, my doubts then arose
to positive unbelief.
After a few inspirations of the nitrous oxide, I felt a fulness in
my head, which increased with each inhalation, until, experiencing
symptoms which I thought indicated approaching fainting, I ceased to
breathe it, and was then confirmed in my belief of its inability to
produce in me any pleasurable sensation.
But after a few seconds, I felt an immoderate flow of spirits, and an
irresistible propensity to violent laughter and dancing, which, being
fully conscious of the violence of my feelings, and of their irrational
exhibition, I made great but ineffectual efforts to restrain; this was
my state for several minutes. During the rest of the day, I experienced
a degree of hilarity altogether new to me. For six or seven days
afterwards, I seemed to feel most exquisitely at every nerve, and was
much indisposed to my sedentary pursuits; this acute sensibility has
been gradually diminishing; but I still feel somewhat of the effects of
this novel agent.
Your’s truly,
M. M. COATES.
To Mr. DAVY.
_June 11th, 1800._