Neither my notes nor my recollection supply much in addition to what
I formerly stated in the _Notice of Observations at the Pneumatic
Institution_. _Longman._ The gas maintains its first character as
well in its effects on me, as in the benefit it confers on some of
the paralytic, and the injury it does or threatens to the hysterical
and the exquisitely sensible. I find that five or six quarts operate
as powerfully as ever. I seem to make a given quantity go farther by
holding my breath so that the gas may be absorbed in a great degree
without returning into the bag, and therefore, be as little heated
before inspiration as possible.—This may be fancy.
After innumerable trials, I have never once felt lassitude or
depression[226]. Most commonly I am sensible of a grateful glow _circum
præcordia_. This has continued for hours.—In two or three instances
only has inhalation failed to be followed by pleasurable feeling, it
has never been followed by the contrary. On a few occasions before the
gas was exhausted, I have found it impossible to continue breathing.
[226] Of the facts on which Brown founded his law of indirect debility,
no prudent man will lose sight either in practising or studying
medicine. They are incontrovertible.—And our new facts may doubtless be
conciliated to the Brunonian doctrine.
But to suppose that the expenditure of a quality or a substance or a
spirit, and its renewal or accumulation are the general principles of
animal phænomena, seems to me a grievous and baneful error. I believe
it often happens that excitement and excitability increase, and that
they oftener decrease together;—In short, without generalizing in
a manner, of which Brown and similar theorists had no conception,
our notions of the living world will in my opinion, continue to be
as confused as the elements are said to have been in chaos. On some
future occasion, I may presume to point out the region through which I
imagine the path to wind, that will lead the observers of some distant
generation to a point, whence they may enjoy a view of the subtle, busy
and intricate movements of the organic creation as clear as Newton
obtained of the movements of the heavenly masses.
The pulse at first becomes fuller and stronger. Whenever, after
exposure to a cold wind, the warmth of the room has created a glow in
the cheeks, the gas has increased this to strong flushing—which common
air breathed in the same way, failed to do.
Several times I have found that a cut which had ceased to be painful
has smarted afresh, and on taking two doses in succession, the smarting
ceased in the interval and returned during the second respiration. I
had no previous expectation of the first smarting.
The only time I was near rendering myself insensible to present
objects by very carefully breathing several doses in quick succession,
I forcibly exclaimed, TONES!—In fact, besides a general thrilling,
there seemed to be quick and strong alterations in the degree of
illumination of all surrounding objects; and I felt as if composed
of finely vibrating strings. On this occasion, the skin seemed in a
state of constriction and the lips glued to the mouth-piece, and the
mucous membrane of the lungs contracted, but not painfully. However, no
constriction or corrugation of the skin could be seen. I am conscious
of having made a great number of observations while breathing, which I
could never recover.
Immediately afterwards I have often caught myself walking with a
hurried step and busy in soliloquy. The condition of general sensation
being as while hearing chearful music, or after good news, or a
moderate quantity of wine.
Mr. John Cave, Junr. and his three friends, as well as others,
compared the effects to Champagne. Most persons have had the idea
of the effect of fermented liquors excited by the gas. It were to be
wished that we had, for a standard of comparison, observations on the
effect of these liquors as diversified and as accurate as we have
obtained concerning the gas; nor would more uniformity in the action
of these substances be observed if the enquiry were strictly pursued.
Opium and spirits seem, in particular states to sicken and distress
in the first instance; how differently does wine at an early hour and
fasting act upon those who are accustomed to take it only after dinner!
I thought it might be an amusing spectacle to see the different tints
of blood flowing from a wound by a leech in consequence of breathing
different airs. The purple from the nitrous oxide was very evident.
Oxygene, we thought, occasioned a quicker flow and brighter color in
the blood. In another experiment, an inflamed area round the puncture
from a leech applied the day before, was judged by several spectators
to become much more crimson on the respiration of about 20 quarts
of oxygene gas, which possibly acts more powerfully on inflamed
parts.[227] These and many similar experiments, require to be repeated
on the blood of single arteries opened in warm and cold animals.
[227] After writing this, I was present when an invalid, in whose foot
the gout, after much wandering, had at last fixed, breathed 12 quarts
of oxygene gas. While breathing, he eagerly pointed to the inflamed
leg; and afterwards said he had felt in it a new sensation, somewhat
like tension.—I never had seen oxygene respired where there was so much
local inflammation.
June 18. After four quarts of oxygene with 6 of nitrous oxide and
then 6 of nitrous oxide alone, violent itching of the wounds made by
the leech; and redness and tumour.—Both had healed, and I did not
expect to feel any thing more from them.—I tried this again with two
doses of nitrous oxide—The yellow halo round one wound changed to
crimson, and there was so much stinging and swelling that I feared
suppuration.—Absorption here was rapid.
It has appeared to me that I could hold my breath uncommonly long when
respiring oxygene gas mixed with nitrous oxide. While trying this
to-day, (17th June), I thought the sense of smell much more acute after
the nitrous oxide than before I began to respire at all; and then I
felt conscious that this increased acuteness had before repeatedly
occurred—a fact very capable, I apprehend, of a pneumatological
interpretation.
Time by my feelings has always appeared longer than by a watch.
I thought of trying to observe whether while I alternately breathed
quantities of nitrous oxide and oxygene gas and common air, I could
observe any difference in the operation of a blister beginning to
bite the skin. It would be of consequence to ascertain the effect
of regulating by compression the flow of blood, while stimulants of
various kinds (and heated bodies among the rest) were applied to or
near the extremities—because in erisipelas and various inflammatory
affections, a ready and pleasant cure might be effected by partial
compression of the arteries going to the diseased part; and a great
improvement in practice thus obtained.
But I should run into an endless digression, were I to enumerate
possible physiological experiments with artificial airs, or to
speculate on the mechanical improvement of medicine, which at present
as far as mechanical means of affecting the living system are
concerned, is with us in a state that would almost disgrace a nation of
savages.