RESEARCHES,
CHEMICAL and PHILOSOPHICAL;
CHIEFLY CONCERNING
NITROUS OXIDE,

OR
DEPHLOGISTICATED NITROUS AIR,

AND ITS
RESPIRATION.

By HUMPHRY DAVY,

SUPERINTENDENT OF THE MEDICAL PNEUMATIC
INSTITUTION.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON, ST. PAUL’S CHURCH-YARD,
BY BIGGS AND COTTLE, BRISTOL,
1800.

CONTENTS.

Introduction,[xi.]
RESEARCH I.

Into the analysis of Nitric Acidand Nitrous Gas, and the production of Nitrous Oxide.

DIVISION I.

Experiments and Observationson the composition of Nitric Acid, and on its combinations with Waterand Nitrous Gas.

1.Preliminaries[ 1]
2.Production of aëriform Nitrous Acid[ 3]
3.Specific gravity of Gases[ 6]
4.Experiment on the formation of Nitrous Acid[11]
5.Conclusions[17]
6.Experiments on the combination of Nitrous Gas with Nitric Acid[17]
7.Additional Experiments[23]
8.Conclusions[29]
9.Mr. Thomson’s Theory of the difference between Nitric and Nitrous Acid[30]
10.Composition of the different Nitrous Acids[36]
11.Combination of Nitric Acid with Water[38]
12.Of Nitrous Vapor[42]
13.Comparison of the results with those of Cavendish and Lavoisier[43]
DIVISION II.

Experiments and Observationson the composition of Ammoniac and on its combinations with Water and Nitric Acid.

1.Analysis of Ammoniac[56]
2.Specific gravity of Ammoniac[62]
3.Of the quantities of true Ammoniac in Ammoniacal Solutions[65]
4.Composition of Nitrate of Ammoniac[71]
5.Decomposition of Carbonate of Ammoniac, by Nitrous Acid[75]
6.Decomposition of Sulphate of Ammoniac by Nitre[77]
7.Non-existence of Ammoniacal Nitrites[79]
8.Sources of error in Analysis[80]
9.Loss in Solutions of Nitrate of Ammoniac during evaporation[83]
DIVISION III.

Decomposition of Nitrate ofAmmoniac—Preparation of respirable Nitrous Oxide.

1.Of the heat required for the decomposition of Nitrate of Ammoniac[84]
2.Decomposition of Nitrate of Ammoniac—Production of respirable Nitrous Oxide—its properties[86]
3.Of the Gas remaining after the absorption of Nitrous Oxide by Water[89]
4.Specific Gravity of Nitrous Oxide[94]
5.Analysis of Nitrous Oxide[95]
6.Minute examination of the decomposition of Nitrate of Ammoniac[101]
7.Of the heat produced during the decomposition of Nitrate of Ammoniac[108]
8.Decomposition of Nitrate of Ammoniac at high temperatures[109]
9.Speculations on the decompositions of Nitrate of Ammoniac[113]
10.Of the preparation of Nitrous Oxide for experiments on respiration[117]
DIVISION IV.
Experiments and Observationson the composition ofNitrous Gas, and on its absorption by different bodies.
1.Preliminaries[122]
2.Analysis of Nitrous Gas by Charcoal[126]
3.Analysis of Nitrous Gas by Pyrophorus[132]
4.Additional observations on the composition of Nitrous Gas[134]
5.Absorption of Nitrous Gas by Water[140]
6.Absorption of Nitrous Gas by Water of different kinds[147]
7.Absorption of Nitrous Gas by solution of pale green Sulphate of Iron[152]
8.Absorption of Nitrous Gas by solution of green muriate of Iron[179]
9.By Solution of Nitrate of Iron[187]
10.By other metallic Solutions[189]
11.Action of sulphurated Hydrogene on solution of green sulphate of iron impregnated with Nitrous Gas[191]
12.Additional Observations[193]
DIVISION V.
Experiments and Observations on the production ofNitrous Oxide from Nitrous Gasand Nitric Acid in different modes.
1.Preliminaries[197]
2.Conversion of Nitrous Gas into Nitrous Oxide by alkaline sulphites[199]
3.By Muriate of Tin[202]
4.By Sulphurated Hydrogene[203]
5.Decomposition of Nitrous Gas by Nascent Hydrogene[206]
6.Miscellaneous Observations[209]
7.Recapitulation[211]
8.Production of Nitrous Oxide from Metallic Solutions[213]
9.Additional Observations relating to the production of Nitrous Oxide[219]
10.Decomposition of Aqua regia by platina, and evolution of a gas analogous to oxygenated muriatic acid, and nitrogene[222]
11.Action of the electric spark on a mixture of Nitrogene and Nitrous gas[229]
12.General remarks on the production of Nitrous Oxide[231]
RESEARCH II.

Into the combinations ofNitrous Oxide, and its decomposition.

DIVISION I.

Experimentsand Observations on the combinations ofNitrous Oxide.

1.Combination of Water with Nitrous Oxide[235]
2.—— of Nitrous Oxide with fluid inflammable bodies[240]
3.Action of fluid Acids on Nitrous Oxide[244]
4.—— of Saline Solutions[245]
5.—— of Gases[248]
6.Action of aëriform Nitrous Oxide on the alkalies—History of the discovery of the combinations of Nitrous Oxide, with the alkalies[254]
7.Combination of Nitrous Oxide with Potash[262]
8.Combination of Nitrous Oxide with Soda[268]
9.—— —— —— with Ammoniac[269]
10.Probability of forming compounds of Nitrous Oxide and the alkaline earths[273]
11.Additional Observations[274]
12.The properties of Nitrous oxide resemble those of Acids[276]
DIVISION II.

Decomposition ofNitrous Oxide by combustible Bodies.

1.Preliminaries[278]
2.Conversion of Nitrous Oxide into Nitrous Acid and a gas analogous to Atmospheric Air by ignition[279]
3.Decomposition of Nitrous Oxide by Hydrogene[286]
4.—— —— —— by Phosphorus[293]
5.—— —— by Phosphorated Hydrogene[300]
6.—— by Sulphur[303]
7.—— by Sulphurated Hydrogene[306]
8.—— by Charcoal[311]
9.—— by Hydrocarbonate[313]
10. Combustion of Iron in Nitrous Oxide[316]
11.—— of Pyrophorus[318]
12.—— of the Taper[319]
13.—— of different Compound Bodies[321]
14.General Conclusions relating to the decomposition of Nitrous Oxide, and to its analysis[322]
15.Observations on the combinations of Oxygene and Nitrogene[325]
RESEARCH III.

Relating to the Respiration ofNitrous Oxide and other Gases.

DIVISION I.

Experiments and Observations on the effects produced upon Animals by the respiration of Nitrous Oxide.

1.Preliminaries[333]
2.On the respiration of Nitrous Oxide by warm-blooded Animals[336]
3.Effects of the respiration of Nitrous Oxide upon Animals, as compared with those produced by their immersion in Hydrogene and Water[343]
4.Of the changes effected in the organisation of warm-blooded Animals, by the respiration of Nitrous Oxide[347]
5.Of the respiration of mixtures of Nitrous Oxide and other Gases, by warm-blooded Animals[358]
6.Recapitulation of facts relating to the respiration of Nitrous Oxide, by warm-blooded Animals[360]
7.Of the respiration of Nitrous Oxide, by amphibious Animals[362]
8.Effects of Solution of Nitrous Oxide on Fishes[366]
9.Effects of Nitrous Oxide on Insects[370]
DIVISION II.

Of the changes effected inNitrous Oxide and other Gases, by the Respiration of Animals.

1.Preliminaries[373]
2.Absorption of Nitrous Oxide by Venous Blood[374]
3.Of the changes effected in Nitrous Oxide by Respiration[388]
4.Respiration of Hydrogene[400]
5.Additional Observations and Experiments on the Respiration of Nitrous Oxide[411]
6.Of the Respiration of Atmospheric Air[429]
7.Respiration of Oxygene[439]
8.Observations on the changes effected in the blood by Atmospheric Air and Oxygene[445]
9.Observations on the Respiration of Nitrous Oxide[449]
RESEARCH IV.

Relating to the Effects produced by theRespiration of Nitrous Oxideupon different Individuals.

DIVISION I.

History of the Discovery.—Effectsproduced by the Respiration of different Gases.

1.Respirability of Nitrous Oxide[456]
2.Effects of Nitrous Oxide[458]
3.General Effects of Nitrous Oxide on the Health[464]
4.Respiration of Hydrogene[466]
5.—— of Nitrogene[467]
6.Effects of Hydrocarbonate[468]
7.—— of Carbonic Acid[472]
8.—— of Oxygene[473]
9.—— of Nitrous Gas[475]
10.Most extensive action of Nitrous Oxide produces no debility[485]
DIVISION II.

Details of the Effects produced by the Respiration of Nitrous Oxide upon different Individuals, furnished by Themselves.

1.Detail of Mr. J. W. Tobin[497]
2.—— of Mr. W. Clayfield[502]
3.Letter from Dr. Kinglake[503]
4.Detail of Mr. Southey[507]
5.Letter from Dr. Roget[509]
6.Letter from Mr. James Thomson[512]
7.Detail of Mr. Coleridge[516]
8.—— of Mr. Wedgwood[518]
9.—— of Mr. G. Burnet[520]
10.—— of Mr. T. Pople[521]
11.—— of Mr. Hammick[522]
12.—— of Dr. Blake[524]
13.—— of Mr. Wanfey[525]
14.—— of Mr. Rickman[526]
15.—— of Mr. Lovell Edgworth[527]
16.—— of Mr. G. Bedford[528]
17.—— of Miss Ryland[530]
18.Letter from Mr. M. M. Coates[530]
DIVISION III.

Abstracts from additional Details—Observations on the effects of Nitrous Oxide, by Dr. Beddoes—Conclusion.

1.Abstracts from additional details[533]
2.Of the effects of Nitrous Oxide on delicate females[537]
3.Observations on the effects of Nitrous Oxide by Dr. Beddoes[541]
4.Conclusion[548]
APPENDIX.
No. I.Of the effects of Nitrous Oxide on Vegetables[561]
No. II.Table of the Weight and Composition of the combinations of Nitrogene[566]
No. III.Additional Observations[567]
No. IV.Description of a Mercurial Airholder, and Breathing Machine, by Mr. W. Clayfield. [573]
No. V.Proposals for the Preservation of Accidental Observations in Medicine. By Dr. Beddoes.[577]

INTRODUCTION.