Researches Chemical and Philosophical; Chiefly concerning nitrous oxide: or dephlogisticated nitrous air and its respirationDavy, Humphry, Sir
Science
Researches Chemical and Philosophical; Chiefly concerning nitrous oxide: or dephlogisticated nitrous air and its respiration
Davy, Humphry, Sir
Nitrous oxide
I introduced a rabbit of six months old, into a vessel of nitrous
oxide, and after a minute, when it had fallen down apparently
apoplectic, plunged him wholly under water; he immediately began to
struggle, and what surprised me very much, died in less than a minute
after submersion. On opening the thorax, the blood in the pulmonary
veins was nearly of the color of that in animals that have been simply
drowned. The lungs were here and there, marked with a few points;
but there were no large purple spots, as in animals that have been
wholly destroyed in nitrous oxide: the right side of the heart only
contracted. In this experiment, the excitement from the action of the
gas was probably carried to such an extent, as to produce indirect
debility. There are reasons for supposing, that animals after having
been excited to but a small extent by the respiration of nitrous oxide,
will live under water for a greater length of time, than animals
previously made to breathe common air.
V. _Of the respiration of mixtures of Nitrous Oxide, and other gases,
by warm-blooded Animals._
_a._ A rabbit of near two months old, was introduced into a mixture of
equal parts hydrogene and nitrous oxide through water. He immediately
began to struggle; in a minute fell on his side; in three minutes
gasped, and made long inspirations; and in four minutes and half, was
dead. On dissection, he exhibited the same appearances as animals
destroyed in nitrous oxide.
_b._ A large and strong mouse was introduced into a mixture of three
parts hydrogene to one part nitrous oxide. He immediately began to
struggle very much, in half a minute, became convulsed, and in about a
minute, was quite dead.
_c._ Into a mixture of one oxygene, and three nitrous oxide, a small
guinea-pig was introduced. He immediately began to struggle, and in two
minutes reposed on his side, breathing very deeply. He made afterwards
no violent muscular motion; but lived quietly for near fourteen
minutes: at the end of which time, his legs were much convulsed. He was
taken out, and recovered.
_d._ A mouse lived apparently without suffering, for near ten minutes,
in a mixture of 1 atmospheric air, and 3 nitrous oxide, at the end of
eleven minutes he began to struggle, and in thirteen minutes became
much convulsed.
_e._ A cat of three months old, lived for seventeen minutes, in a
very large quantity of a mixture of 1 atmospheric air, and 12 nitrous
oxide. On her first introduction she was very much agitated and
convulsed, in a minute and half she fell down as if apoplectic, and
continued breathing very deeply during the remainder of the time,
sometimes uttering very feeble cries. When taken out, she appeared
almost inanimate, but on being laid before the fire, gradually began to
breathe and move; being for some time, like most of the animals that
have recovered after breathing nitrous oxide, convulsed on one side,
and paralytic the other.
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