The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-05-16
RUINED BY SUCCESS.
The Story Of q Man Who Re.
GREETED His Discovery.

NV vl.a: -
Shortly after DR. Horace Wells. Of Hart
ford, DR.. Chsri6e r. jackson, Of Boston. and
distinguished foreign chemist discovered
that nitrous oxide or, ~ 1t was popularity
called, laughing or exhilAratiug gas pro-
duced when taken into the lungs tho state
Of ansesthesis or insensibility to pain, was
student in the most eastern Of all our
colleges, the one located or the elm-shaded
banks OF the beautiful. Kenebec. Tho dis
cussion which arose. in relation to whom tho
credit was due for discovering tina nitrous
oxide would produce insensibility to pain
the conjec: utes in regard to the employ
ment Of Anukethetics. in surgery, and the
more general application of chemistry to
the useful arts had all tended to make this
science popular. Most Of my class were de-
lighted when the term came in which we
were to receive instruction in something
beside Latin Greek and mathematics.
shall never forget the day on which the
subject of the compounds o. nitrogen was
to be consif4redin the chemical recitation
room. The, professor had stated the day
before that he should make large quantity
Of nitrous oxide and that he would admin
lister it to ab, uiany Of the class as desired to
inhale it, My roommate Forbes and myself
read every thing we could find pertaining
20 the subject. Much had recently been
published On the matter in the periodicals,
most Of which was more sensational than
scientific. For instance, 1t was stated III
scveral iouynats that a person under the in
f'usucc Of nitrous oxide being unc6hscio
of what he was saying and doing and not
bound by any restraint, would display his
natural disposition and manifest his leading
inclination and distinguishing character
istic to the fullest extent One Journal had
advocated administering this gas TO persons
who were suspected of committing crimes,
with view of satisfying tho Claims of
justice
The class exhibited as much pleasure on
going to the chemical recitation that day as
country lads show on their way to circus.
They were not doomed to disappointment,
either. The performance was quite as en-
joyable as any ever given under circus
,ont by our great moral Snowman besides
being more novel and unique. Great excite
ment attended the administration. OF the
gas, as nearly every one suspected that the
person under its influence would display his
leading propensity or characteristic. If he
did SO on this occasion. some very strange
revelations were1mhde., :,For instance, the
treasurer of the class and the favorite of
the faculty took piece Of apparatus from
the lecture table and put it into his coat
pocket. A. meek-appearing and sancti-
monious looking student, who was supported
by woman'A aid society with a view of
sending him to preacs the gospel of peace
10 the savages'd az AftfGa ~: sumed tho atti-
tudc Of prize fighter and used the name of
his Maker in a way that was discreditable
to home or foreign missionary. To make
the surprise greater, youth who was very
careless in his conversations and studies re-
reated in a most solemn, most affecting man
ner some of the morAl maxirls of Plato in
the language 10 Which they were uttered.
The disclosures, If such they should be
called, made deep impression on Forbes
He spoke of them for several days after
wards. He seemed to be convinced that a
large proportion of people appear to be ex-
actly the reverse of what they really are.
He predicte4a most brilliant future for
nitrous oxide: As other substances. known
as reagents were used to detect the presence
If various acids and bases whose properties
arc concealed by the combinations they
have entered into, sd this wonderful gas
would, in his opinion, be employed to de-
termine the true r4aracter OF human beings.
He declared that he ,swould use it on every
person before he entered on intimate rela-
tons with them. 5, =
On Saturday, few weeks afterwards,
Forbes and took q long stroll into the coun-
try. We visited the DEVILS Easy Chair and
the Cascade, familiar places to most of the
students OF Colby. Though he was great
lover OF natural s2fASE< and that which we
engage his attention. He did not seem to
some peculiar subject. He Vas melancholy,
restless aud taciturn. AS he was notin mood
to be companionable left him under the CO.
dars near the waterfall, which only needs a
Longfellow to make it as ;fRmops as Mime
hama, and went long distance, up the bank
of the stream Wh4M Returned I found
that he had not changed his position. He still
sat on the green bank, one arm Rbont' a,csdar
tree, his eyes fixed on the pool below the
the charming waterfall. s~H4 did not appear
to notice my approach. After q few mo-
ments of silence, in'which it was difficult to
determine whetheI.b6A had observed mo sor
not. as he did n6I look ZIP, he said:
THE world needs something besides nj
trous oxide. That is all well enough in its
way, but it does not accomplish all that is
desired. Whatjs: wanted is a substance
that person can,{n bale crswallow and I'M
dor the induenceUf which he will be able to
see others as they really are, to penetrate
uAA uAoSu1oC0, W lC0A II0IACVCI AKlU discern
motives, intentions and purposes. I am con-
WINGED that there is such substance el-
ready formed or elements that can be COM
bined 80 as to secure it. Quito likely it has
long been known, but that we are in ignor-
ance OF its propsrtie3, >, Great Priestly, the
founder of modern chemistry discovered nj.
trous oxide before our fathers were born
but We are just beginnilg to find out what
it is good for. Ho.dlscovered better than
he knew He produced what others have
derived advantage from though he gained
none.
Being very tired fron1. our long walk
urged the propriety Of OPP returning home
so that we could arrive at the "commonsn
before supper was over. My. hunger, unlike
that Of my COMPANION, was of the kind
common.to young fellows who have been
taking = goodly amount of. exercise, Lied
the way, and over Most 81. the route my
speculative friend was. along distance be-
hind me. He took his place at the supper
table, but scarcely tasted any food. Instead
OF going to our room after supper we went
down to the bank:6i the river and sat under
the trees. Il had retired before heard his
slow step coming. up tho stairs.
changed roommates at the commence
ment of the next term end saw less of my
old chum than formerly NOTICED that he
spent much time In the chemical laboratory
and altogether neglected sports and society.
The books he took from the college library
were those that perteined to chemistry,
physiology and :latth6lbgy:: After school
days were over. 40 driited entirely apart.
He engaged In the:study- of medicine He
WAS surgeon to . Naw England regiment
during the Civil War, ut tho close of which
he settled in mining town in Pennsylvania.
received letter from him while he was
there In which he stated that he was en-
gagged In his life work." and I concluded
that it did not consist entirely in setting
fractures and dislocatlons and administering
calomel. He invited ne to visit him IL
svsr passsd through the Keysteus stata q