J. Rickman.
XV. Detail of Mr. Lovell Edgworth.
My first sensation was an universal and considerable tremor. I then perceived some giddiness in my head, and a violent dizziness in my sight; those sensations by degrees subsided, and I felt a great propensity to bite through the wooden mouth-piece, or the tube of the bag through which I inspired the air. After I had breathed all the air that was in the bag, I eagerly wished for more. I then felt a strong propensity to laugh, and did burst into a violent fit of laughter, and capered about the room without having the power of restraining myself. By degrees these feelings subsided, except the tremor which lasted for an hour after I had breathed the air, and I felt a weakness in my knees. The principal feeling through the whole of the time, or what I should call the characteristical part of the effect, was a total difficulty of restraining my feelings, both corporeal and mental, or in other words, not having any command of one’self.
XVI. Detail of Mr. G. Bedford.
I inhaled 6 quarts. Experienced a sensation of fulness in the extremities and in the face, with a desire and power of expansion of the lungs very pleasurable. Feelings similar to intoxication were produced, without being disagreeable. When the bag was taken away, an involuntary though agreeable laughter took place, and the extremities were warm.
In about a quarter of an hour after the above experiment, I inhaled 8 quarts. The warmth and fulness of the face and extremities were sooner produced during the inspiration. The candle and the persons about me, assumed the same appearances as took place during the effect produced by wine, and I could perceive no determinate outline. The desire and power to expand the lungs was increased beyond that in the former experiment, and the whole body and limbs seemed dilated without the sense of tension, it was as if the bulk was increased without any addition to the specific gravity of the body, which was highly pleasant. The provocation to laughter was not so great as in the former experiment, and when the bag was removed, the warmth almost suddenly gave place to a coldness of the extremities, particularly of the hands which were the first to become warm during the inspiration. A slight sensation of fulness not amounting to pain in the head, has continued for some minutes. After the first experiment, a sensation in the wrists and elbows took place, similar to that produced by the electric shock.
G. C. Bedford.
March 30th, 1800.
XVII. Detail of Miss Ryland.
After having breathed five quarts of gas, I experienced for a short time a quickness and difficulty of breathing, which was succeeded by extreme languor, resembling fainting, without the very unpleasant sensation with which it is usually attended. It entirely deprived me of the power of speaking, but not of recollection, for I heard every thing that was said in the room during the time; and Mr. Davy’s remark “that my pulse was very quick and full.“ When the languor began to subside, it was succeeded by restlessness, accompanied by involuntary muscular motions. I was warmer than usual, and very sleepy for several hours.