Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-01-23
The use Of Nitrous Oxide, or Gas
in the ENtrcati0u Of Teeth.

in the ENtrcati0u Of Teeth.
Quite 4 number have como to mo
TO have their teeth removed and
wished that | would give them gas,
in order that they might be mcon-
scious of the operation, or rather
that il would be painless one, |
have invariably refused TO do SO,
from the fact that il is dangerous.
In quite n number of instances it
has been given and no one aware
of the danger until il was too late.
My idea is in this article to prove
from physiological view that il is
dangerous, and we, us dentists, are
not capable of knowing when it is
otherwise II is true we know
something about Physiology but
what do we know in comparison TO
some of the leading men of the pro-
fcssion? Just simply u drop in
the bucket. You, the people of
Mineral Point, vicinity and else
whore are not conscious of the dan
ger you are placing yourselves in
when you ae cnhuling the wonder.
full !" Nitrous Oxide
In the first place, nitrous oxide
narcotics, Cor puts you TO sleop)
which is shown by the increased
frequency of the hearts action In
the second place, il asphyxiates, (or
sullocates) which is shown by the
fact that when inhaled the power
of reflex action is lost. 1t has been
considered by many Of the dental
profession that "nitrous oxiden has
no other effect except asphyxiation,
but that this idea is erroneous is an
established fact. That in the third
place, il anacsthtizcs, Tor causes Il
loss Of feeling or pcreeption) and
thateomplctc anaesthesia is brought
about only by u thorough combina-
tion Of narcotism and asphyxiation.
Fourth, in asphyXiation by mi
trous oxide" the feeling as of want
Of mir il much less than in common
asphyxia and eonyulsions are eth
er entirely absent or very feeble.
In the fifth place, we have three
characterized periods; the first Of
predominating inspiration, wherein
the patient inspires very freely; the
second, of prcdominating expira-
tion, wherein the cxpirations are
free and forciblc; the third, where
in gradually lcsscned faint--grow.
ing inspirations appear until dcii-
mite paralizcd condition Of the CEN
ter Of respiration is set up. In
breathing pure nitrous oxide" the
frequency Of the hearts contraction
and dilation decreases from the be-
ginning, but not nearly 50 much as
when an undiflerencated "gus" is
breathed.
Now, we come to the most essen
tial point TO be considered by the
administrator, i. G. the two differ
cnt periods of increased blood-tcn-
tion, (Which should be well under
stood by each aud eve J one that at
tcmpts 70 administer nitrous OK
idc, 80 that he may know when
it becomes dangerous,) The first
increase Of blood-tention is noticeable
during the asphyxiating period,
but il il not usually 30 strong as
the second, which occurs when re-
covering from the effects Of the mi
trous oxide 1t il this increased
secondary blood-tcntion upon re-
covcry, that may especially become
n point Of great danger. There are
oftentimcs more than two periods
ofincrcascd blood-tention following
each other, they are first, a con-
traction, then a dilation. The last
point to be considered ii apoplexy.
To know this fact and the point
where its symptoms begin. is the
most important 70 all who admin
ist0r auitr0ug oxide Il