Thomas Pople.
XI. Detail of Mr. Hammick.
Having never heard any thing of the mode of operation of nitrous oxide, I breathed gas in a silk bag for some time, and found no effects, but oppression of respiration. Afterwards Mr. Davy told me that I had been breathing atmospheric air.
In a second experiment made without knowing what gas was in the bag, I had not breathed half a minute, when from the extreme pleasure I felt, I unconciously removed the bag from my mouth; but when Mr. Davy offered to take it from me, I refused to let him have it, and said eagerly, “let me breathe it again, it is highly pleasant! it is the strongest stimulant I ever felt!“ I was cold when I began to respire, but had immediately a pleasant glow extending to my toes and fingers. I experienced from the air a pleasant taste which I can only call sweetly astringent; it continued for some time: the sense of exhilaration was lasting. This air Mr. Davy told me was nitrous oxide.
In another experiment, when I breathed a small dose of nitrous oxide, the effects were slight, and sometime afterwards I felt an unusual yawning and languor.
The last time that I breathed the gas, the feelings were the most pleasurable I ever experienced; my head appeared light, there was a great warmth in the back and a general unusual glow; the taste was distinguishable for some time as in the former experiment. My ideas were more vivid, and followed the natural order of association. I could not refrain from muscular action.
Stephen Hammick, Junr.
Sept. 15th.
XII. Detail of Dr. Blake.
Dr. Blake inhaled about six quarts of the air, was affected during the process of respiring it with a slight degree of vertigo, which was almost immediately succeeded by a thrilling sensation extending even to the extremities, accompanied by a most happy state of mind and highly pleasurable ideas. He felt a great propensity to laugh, and his behaviour in some measure appeared ludicrous to those around him. Muscular power seemed agreeably increased, the pulse acquired strength and firmness, but its frequency was somewhat diminished. He perceived rather an unpleasant taste in the mouth and about the fauces for some hours afterwards, but in every other respect, his feelings were comfortable during the remainder of the day.