National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-07
DIR. MowLANp,s PAPER
On the New Anacsthetic nitrous Oxide
BefoFo Tire Medical Society.

On the New Anacsthetic Nitrous Oxide
Before the Medical Society.
DR.. i, P. Rowland last evening read paper
before the Medical society of the District Of
Columbia, on the iiew anaesthetic nitrous
oxide and oxygen, administered in condensed
air chambers for prolonged dental and surgi-
cal operations He stated that the process
was first discovered by Paul Bert, of Paris,
and tho first operation performed under It's
influence was done by two Partisan surgeons,
DR.. Leon Labbie and Dir. Pcan on Feb. Is,
1879. Since then several hundred operations
have been performed with great success. DIR.
Rowland stated that pure nitrous oxide
could not be given longer than one minute
without producing asphyxia; and if mixed
with air or oxygen to oxygenate the blood,
and breathed as ordinarily given, it would
not produce anaesthesia; consequently
as ordinarily given, nitrous oxide was not
practical for prolonged operations. By taking
eighty-fve parts Of nitrous oxide and fifteen
parts on oxygen and breathing them from o
gas bag in chamber where the pressure of
air was five pounds to the square inch this mix
ture would produce perfect anaesthesia and
perfectly oxygcnate the blood and the patient
could be kept lnsensble any length Of time
without danger or injury. DIR. Howlnnd
stated that he had invented n chamber that
would greatly facilitate tho introduction of the
ing the air of the chamber to free il from
impurities and germs of bacteria that might
inocuate the patient during operations from
infected air in contact with open wounds.
After fully calculating the subject he said
the general conclusions may be formulated
as follows:
I. Nitrous oxide administered under press.
ure and mixed with oxygen Produces
within several minutes, profound insensi-
biity.
>. Under these conditions life may be in
definitely sustained without the least danger
of asphyxia.
3. In augmenting or diminishing the press
ure the progress of an@sthesia may be regu-
lated at will, and with mathematical preci
sion. Therefore there is no danger of any Of
the accidents incurred through the use Of
ether OF chloroform.
a. When Inhalation of nitrous oxide and
oxygen is stopped the patient RECEIVERS con-
scousness in few seconds and feels no con-
sequont discomfort
s. Nitrous oxide is merely dissolved in the
plasina of the blood, and escapes when in-
haation ceases.
g. Its use causes no trouble to nutrition
and no change IN tho chemical compositions
of the organs or cessation of their functions.
T. The action Of compressed air upon
tho operator and his assistants need
not be feared. Compressed air is very
catarrh of the mucous membrane of the nose,
the enstachian tube, and the respiratory chan
nels generally.
3. BY reason Of these facts nitrous oxide
and oxygen is proven to be superior to ether
or chloroform, whether we consider It's pro-
found an@sthetic effect or its freedom from
injurious results.
.. If the pressure of the air chamber Is
rightly and properly regulated it is absolutely
impossible for the patient to run any risk by
angsthesia alone.
10. In all that concerns the application of
nitrous oxide and oxygen to surgery the
scientific phase may be said to be exhausted,
and this anRsthetiC can and should be hence
forth used for operations of indefinite dura-
tion instead OF ether and chloroform.
After the reading of the paper an animal
was placed in an experimental air chamber
and nitrous oxide and oxygen was admins
tered. The animal remained anstehctiaed
for several minutes, and when removed re-
covered in one minute, uninjured
vote of thanks was given DR.. Rowland
by the medical society for his interesting
paper and clinic.