XVIII. Letter from Mr. M. M. Coates.
I will, as you request, endeavour to describe to you the effect produced on me last Sunday fe’nnight by the nitrous oxide, and will at the same time tell you what was the previous state of my mind on the subject.
When I sat down to breathe the gas, I believed that it owed much of its effect to the predisposing agency of the imagination, and had no expectation of its sensible influence on myself. Having ignorantly breathed a bag of common air without any effect, my doubts then arose to positive unbelief.
After a few inspirations of the nitrous oxide, I felt a fulness in my head, which increased with each inhalation, until, experiencing symptoms which I thought indicated approaching fainting, I ceased to breathe it, and was then confirmed in my belief of its inability to produce in me any pleasurable sensation.
But after a few seconds, I felt an immoderate flow of spirits, and an irresistible propensity to violent laughter and dancing, which, being fully conscious of the violence of my feelings, and of their irrational exhibition, I made great but ineffectual efforts to restrain; this was my state for several minutes. During the rest of the day, I experienced a degree of hilarity altogether new to me. For six or seven days afterwards, I seemed to feel most exquisitely at every nerve, and was much indisposed to my sedentary pursuits; this acute sensibility has been gradually diminishing; but I still feel somewhat of the effects of this novel agent.
Your’s truly,
M. M. Coates.
To Mr. Davy.
June 11th, 1800.
DIVISION III.
ABSTRACTS from ADDITIONAL DETAILS.—OBSERVATIONS on the EFFECTS of NITROUS OXIDE, by Dr. BEDDOES.—CONCLUSION.
I. Abstracts from additional Details.