Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-11-06
From the CosmoDUit
NITROUS OXIDE.."VITALIZED AIR"
BY MARSHALL H. WEBB, D. D. g.

BY MARSHALL H. WEBB, D. D. 8.
While on visit to Dr. G. B. Mcdonald,
at his office in Girard, recently, your cores
pondent heard conversation between this
friend and patient in reference to the ex-
traction of the natural teeth while persons
are under the influence of nitrous oxide, or
"vitalized air." (so-called)
Since the writer had administered and in.
hailed this same agent about eleven years ago,
and after time became aware Gas did the
gentleman just named and many others) of
the insidious and evil effects of nitrous oxide
upon the system, (his own system as well as
the bodies. of others, he became aroused
about the matter upon hearing of the partial
revival of the "hydra headed monster" and,
for the welfare and safety Of your good peo-
pie, decided to state the following facts, and
these, too, from an entirely disinterested
standpoint.
Nitrous oxide has been known by various
names, such as "protoxide Of nitrogen"
"dephlogistigated nitrous all" Laughing gas"
and "vitalized air." Nitrous oxide is gener-
ated by means'of heat from nitrate of ammo.
MIA and the gas passed through several jars
partially filed with water to a gasometer. Ut
late nitrous oxide has been condensed into
iron cylinders, and this "liquid nitrous oxide"
is of greater purity than that made by den.
fists in former years. While this condensed
nitrous oxide is free from nitric oxide Cor 9TH
er element) that is more dangerous than nit
rous oxide, yet the agent is not a safe one.
No agent that interferes with or suspends
physiological or normal action is safe or free
from danger. -
About fifteen years ago many dentists COM
meneed making and administering nitrous OK
ide. and It vas then stated that this agent
is "perfectly harmless There are those
who are now giving this same-agent, nitrous
oxide, and claiming the very same thfnss, SO
far as its harmlessness is concerned, and that
the wolf may be clad sin sleeps clothing"
they introduce the agent by the name Of wi
talized air" whereas there is more Of q dental
lied than vitalized character about it. There
is but one "vitalized air" and that is the pure
atmosphere air we breathe-which en-:
ters the lungs and gives up oxygen to the
blood.current to pass along with the blood
corpuscles to "vitalize and revitalize" every
part of the system. Any other air than that
furnished through the operation and fulfill
ment of the laws of our being, has in it ele-
ments of destruction of the tissues. All the
best dentists in the world (including DR.. Nc
Donald, of your place,) WHO administered nj,
trous oxide years ago, or when 1t was trst In
troduced, discovered that this is dangerous
agent, and that many persons have been in.
jured for life, and in some cases lite soon
ended because of the administration of this
agent. Very many instances could be given
to prove that nitrous oxide and all the other
anasthenic agents have injured or destroyed
many persons, but this brief statement CT
truth ought to be sufficient to induce all to
positively decline to trife with the laws of
life.
1t were better, so far as dentistry is con-
cerned at least, had the an@sthetic property
of any agent never been discovered, and arti-
fetal teeth never been conceived of. Anas-
thenthic agents enable unconscientious prac.
titioners (maLpractitioners) to induce per-
sons to have, or accommodate unwise people in
having their natural teeth extracted when
they would not otherwise submit to such un-
called-for loss of priceless organs, and an un-- :
artistic array of miniature tomb-stones to
mark the place where nature had implanted
"pearls of great price" in an "arch of ruby"
still further leads to the sacrifice of the natu-
raj teeth. The natural organs need be lost
only through accident or from absorption of
the alveolar process and gums because of
disease or the lack of nutrition in advanced
life, but it were better that those who thus
lose their teeth should be deprived Of arti6-
cial substitutes than that thousands, nay
millions, should be unnecessarily made tooth
less by unqualified, unskillful and unconscien-
tious persons claiming to be dentists. Den
tistry, (true dentistry now consists in SO
directing the habits and feeding of parents
and children that the whole osseous structure
Gncluding the teeth) may be fully supplied
with limesalts and be perfectly calcifed, and
in so operating upon and taking care Of the
teeth that decay shall prevented or if dis.
colored and decayed, it is the duty Of the den
tist to so cleanse and treat the teeth and as
sociate parts, and fll the cavities Of decay,
that the organs shall be preserved.