Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-06-15
Deathfrom thc Inhalation of Nitrous
Oxide fsas

ny W. PURCELL, NJ. D., NEW YORK.
On ednesday, March 10th. Mrs
Ann OShaughncssy, visited the ofIict
OF dentist named Newbrough. No
rs West 3ith street, New York CITY
for the purpose Of having some teeth
extracted, she having suffered consider.
ably, tor some time previously from
ttoothachc. Although desirous of tax
ing the gas, she yet expressed a rrea,
dread OF 1T, and it was with considcra
bic difficulty that she was persuaded "a
submit. One bagful containing about
-four. gallons was administered. This
not being sufficient to produce anathe.
STA, aseecond bagful was given, and after
a few limitations the dentist proceeded
to extract the teeth. About four were
removed, when the patients head was
observed to fall over on her left should.
er, and she was discovered to be insen
slble. Efforts were made to revive her
but in vain. 1t was found that she had
ceased to breathe, and that no
pulsation OF the heart could be
discerned. A physician was hast
lily summoned, and the galvanic bat
terry and other means and applian-
ccs used, but without success. Tho
woman was dead. DIR. Buchanan. of
3Jo West Thirtieth St, testified that
he was present at the post morten, ex-
animation made on the body of Mrs.
O'Shaughnessy, at the residence of tho
deceased. He corroborated the testi.
mony of the physicians previously ex
sm;ncd as to the result of the autopsy.
Hermann Endcmann, chemist to the
Board of Health Of New York, testi.
ned that at request of Coroner Her
mann he examined the gas used by
DR.. Newbrough and the material used
IN the manufacture of the same. The
nitrate Of ammonia used in the manu-
iacturc OF the gas was not quite pure.
but was as good as is usually provided.
The apparatus uscdby DR.. Newbrough
Is capable Of procuring pure gas pro-
yided it is administered within three
hours after it is made.
patient comes out of the influence
IN two or three minutes so MS to be con-
sclous, but the dizziness continues five
minutes: The only experience thew Wit
ness had Of any evil results from in
hallng the gas was in his assistant, who
took it for the purpose of having a
tooth extracted; next day he did not
ieel well In his lungs, feeling bad for
about week after. A physician told
him that his lungs were congested !:
three months afterward he died ofcon-
sumption.
Mary Mulligan, residing at 30l East
fifth street, testified that she is dress
maker, employed at NcCleary's in
Broadway. Last summer the deceased
worked at the same place with her; she
was in good health, and never knew
her to have fiinting fits.
Mr.. Il. 7. Hoyt, of 81 West Twenty
sixth street, said that he had been n
dentist for fifteen years. He had used
nitrous oxide gass extensively wears
ago, until he become alarmed, and dis
continued Its use on account of its ten
dency to produce asphyxia. About
the year 1863 he almost discontinued
It's use, until he invented a different
method of inhal.ng it, by allowing an
escape of the carbonic acid gas. He
was pressed very much by his patients
to employ the gas, but he did not like
10 administer it without a physician
being present. lie is not entirely sat
lsfied that it is harmless when given
to produce an9thcsia. lie would not
give it IN case of heart disease or nal
pitation of the heart, or disease of the
lungs or brain. The gas, he finds, acts
~ a stimulant; a little of il nets os n
tonic.
Deputy Coroner, John Beach testi-
lied to having made post mortem cx-
animation. His testimony agreed sub.
with that of the other physic-
ans.