The Portland daily press., 1862-09-20
For the Daily Press.
Nitrous Oxide and Neuralgia.

lation of the nitrous oxide, or Laughing gas"
would effect an instantaneous relief in cases of
neuralgia. This is disease which has hither-
to defied the efforts of the best medical skill.
The question will be asked, is the cure perma-
nent, or only temporary? answer that have
treated some twenty-five or thirty cases, some
of which were severe and of long standing,and
in no instance has the disease reappeared.
first administered the gas for this disease
to the daughter of DR.. Allen, a distinguished
physician of Springfield, Mass. She had suffer
ed for six months, and appeared to be in as
much pain as one could be, at the time she
breathed it. To my surprise, instant relief
was afforded. DIR. Allen writes me, under date
of Aug. 25th 1862. Il am happy to say to you
that the inhaling of the Exhilarating or Nitrous
Oxide Gas administered by you to my daugh-
ter, for severe neuralgia in the face and head,
has proved perfect success; not the slight
est return Of the symptom has been present in
her case since inhaling it, (now nearly three
months.) when instantaneous relief was afford
ed. As to any injurious effects resulting from
it, have not the slightest apprehension; on
the contrary, believe its use in cases similar
to that of my daughter, as well as in cases of
extreme vital prostration, may be attended
with the happiest results"
believe this was the first instance in which
the gas was ever administered for neuralgia.
Another more striking case, on account the
age of the patient--filty- y-ive,-and the length
of time the disease had existed-three years
was that of Mrs. Brown of Salem, Mass. Her
son, Mr.. Samuel Brown, writes me-"She has
been great sufferer for more than three years
past, and for the last six months the neuralgia
pains have been so severe and constant, that
she has not enjoyed single nights sleep-on-
ly getting an hours sleep at time. On the
26th of August, when you administered to her
two doses ofthe Nitrous Oxide, she was i'll
stantly relieved of pain; Immediately she drop
ed into profound sleep That was her first
entire nights sleep since last spring Since
then she has not had the slightest return of the
disease, and we think she will soon recover her
usual strength"
Why does The gas produce such effects?
The nitrous oxide differs from atmospheric air
only in containing more oxygen-more Of the
vitalzing property of the air. In the air we
havea .ftth the nitrous oxide third.
The effect of breathing it, is that it oxiginizes
the blood with very great rapidity-so much
so that the blood flows through the circulation
in this highly organized state, at the rate of
200 putsations in a minute. Almost all dis
cases originate in and are caused by unoxigen-
lied blood. Remove the cause of the disease,
by oXigenizing the blood and the disease disap-
pears. PURE AIR is the great promoter and
preserver of health; as it is the great agent
which nature furnishes for the removal of dis
ease. OXYGEN is the only life giving part OF
The air, and only one-fifth of the air is compos-
ed of it.
Now the blood and the nerves are intimate
ly connected. The healthful action of the
nerves, depends on the regular and healthfal
flow of blood. Ifyou only partially stop the
circulation of the blood, as is done by crossing
the limbs, and thus pressing the artery, the
foot "goes to Sleep ''as we say,-in other words.
the action of the nerves is suspended. Re
move the limb and allow the blood to flow with
its accustomed rapidty, and the foot will wake
up-a prickling sensati on will be experienced
This is merely the result Of the passage of the
blood over the ends of the nerves, and proves
the intimate connection between them Now
when person breathes the nitrous oxide,
the blood is greatly accelerated in its circu-
lation, and being in more highly oxigenized
or purified condition, produces the same prick
ling sensation, Though not to the same degree)
through all the extremities. 1t seems to rouse
and renovate every slumbering power in the
body. 1t is the same remedy which nature
supplies, only more ofit.
Ifpeople would eat less, and breathe more
oxygen, they would have no disease. BY eat
ing too much, we accumulate more blood than
one-fith part of the air can oxigenize-hence
the accumulation of unoxigenized blood and
consequent disease If nature had intended
that we should pamper our appetites and eat
twice as much food as health requires, an extra
quantity of oxygen would have been put into
the air, so that the carbon of the blood might
be balanced by the oxygen. 1t is by the union
of the oxygen of the air, with the carbon Of the
blood in the lungs, that the animal heat is kept
up to 9S. In Iceland there is large quantity
of oxygen in the air, SO that the inhabitants
can eat five or six pounds of clear oil (carbon)
at single meal. The union of this with the
oxygen of the air, preserves the animal heat at
9S, and there is no accumulation of unoxigen-
lied blood. Under the Equator, the people
are compelled to live ON fruits containing lit
tie carbon) because there is so little oxygen in
the air. and the climate is so enervating. If
they were to eat animal food, the blood could
not be oxigenized and fever would follow
Nature is on the side of health. and supplies
wholesome food and pure air. While we vio-
late the laws of health, and acc umulate more
blood than the air can oxiginize, disease fol-
lows. The Nitrous Oxide contains more of
the vitalizng, the purifying principle of the air,
and balances the extra quantity of carbon or
unoxigenized blood which we accumulate:
have administered the gas for neuralgia, rheu-
matism, partial paralysis, asthma, consumption
and headache with the most beneficial results !;
and / believe the time is not far distant when
this remedy will be used by the medical pro-
fessor, as one of the most powerful medical
agents for the cure of disease. / do not say
can cure consumption when it becomes seated,
but do say that the gas will open every air
cell that can be opened, and start the mucus,
so that the patient will raise freely. In this
way the disease may be arrested, and nature
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