July 23, I called on Mr. Davy at the Medical Institution, who asked me to breathe some of the nitrous oxide, to which I consented, being rather a sceptic as to its effects, never having seen any person affected. I first breathed about six quarts of air which proved to be only common atmospheric air, and which consequently produced no effect.
I then had 6 quarts of the oxide given me in a bag undiluted, and as soon as I had breathed three or four respirations, I felt myself affected and my respiration hurried, which effect increased rapidly until I became as it were entranced, when I threw the bag from me and kept breathing on furiously with an open mouth and holding my nose with my left hand, having no power to take it away though aware of the ridiculousness of my situation. Though apparently deprived of all voluntary motion, I was sensible of all that passed, and heard every thing that was said; but the most singular sensation I had, I feel it impossible accurately to describe. It was as if all the muscles of the body were put into a violent vibratory motion; I had a very strong inclination to make odd antic motions with my hands and feet. When the first strong sensations went off, I felt as if I were lighter than the atmosphere, and as if I was going to mount to the top of the room. I had a metallic taste left in my mouth, which soon went off.
Before I breathed the air, I felt a good deal fatigued from a very long ride I had had the day before, but after breathing, I lost all sense of fatigue.
IX. Detail of Mr. George Burnet.
I had never heard of the effects of the nitrous oxide, when I breathed six quarts of it. I felt a delicious tremor of nerve, which was rapidly propagated over the whole nervous system. As the action of inhaling proceeds, an irresistible appetite to repeat it is excited. There is now a general swell of sensations, vivid, strong, and inconceivably pleasurable. They still become more vigorous and glowing till they are communicated to the brain, when an ardent flush overspreads the face. At this moment the tube inserted in the air-bag was taken from my mouth, or I must have fainted in extacy.
The operation being over, the strength and turbulence of my sensations subsided. To this succeeded a state of feeling uncommonly serene and tranquil. Every nerve being gently agitated with a lively enjoyment. It was natural to expect that the effect of this experiment, would eventually prove debilitating. So far from this I continued in a state of high excitement the remainder of the day after two o’clock, the time of the experiment, and experienced a flow of spirits not merely chearful, but unusually joyous.
George Burnet.
X. Detail of Mr. T. Pople.
A disagreeable sensation as if breaking out into a profuse perspiration, tension of the tympanum, cheeks and forehead; almost total loss of muscular power; afterwards increased powers both of body and mind, very vivid sensations and highly pleasurable. Those pleasant feelings were not new, they were felt, but in a less degree, on ascending some high mountains in Glamorganshire.
On taking it the second time, there was a disagreeable feeling about the face. In a fewseconds, the feelings became pleasurable; all the faculties absorbed by the fine pleasing feelings of existence without consciousness; an involuntary burst of laughter.