The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-13
LAUGHING GAS.
DISCOVERED BY ACCIDENT AND
USED FOR QUEER EFFECTS

for Dental objectionable Was the
First Patient to Try It.
Nitrous oxide or laughing gas was first
discovered by an English chemist named
Priestley, in 1T6. Primarily it was used
in exhibitions for the purpose of producing
the peculiar exhilarating effect which it
has upon some natures when inhaled in
small quantities, and which is the reason
for its being known the world over as
laughing gas. Sir Humphrey Davy sug-
gested century ago that it might be used
in surgical operations where there was no
great efusion of blood, but until 1874 lit
! tie, if any, further attention was paid
! to it.
| On the 10th Of December. 1874. there was
| given at Hartford, an exhibition of the
effects of laughing gas. This exhibit
| ton was merely for the sake of making
money, and its promoters had not the re-
hottest intention of enlightening the public
| on the scientific possibilities of nitrous
oxide. Curiosity led DR.. Horace Wells
dentist residing in the city, to go and see
the fun. After the exhibition DR.. Wells
and some of his friends inhaled the gas
| themselves. One gentleman named Cody,
on being brought under its influence be-
came unusually excited and performed
number of involuntary evolutions and
gyrations which brought him in contact
with the benches and floor in such a man
ner as to bruise and otherwise injure him.
DR.. Wells inquired if he suffered pain from
his wounds Cody appeared surprised and
was not aware that he had been hurt until
he saw the blood trickling down his legs.
1t was at that moment the idea occurred
to DIR. Wells that a man could, by inhaling
sufficient quantity of nitrous oxide gas,
be rendered sufficiently unconscious to
have tooth extracted without feeling any
pain whatever. Putting his theory into
practice, the next day he himself inhaled
sufficient gas to render him unconscious,
and permitted brother dentist, DR.. Riggs
(since deceased, to extract a great molar.
On recovering consciousness Wells ex-
claimed, "a new era in tooth pulling; it
did not hurt as much as the prick of pin"
This was the first operation ever per-
formed under the influence of nitrous OK
ide or any other anasthetic. Previous to
this time no person had ever yet inhaled
sufficient quantity to produce insensibility.
Having nov established the fact that the
gas could be safely used and teeth extract
ed for people under it's influence, Drs.
Wells and Riggs commenced using it in
Hartford and extracted thousands of teeth
without the slightest accident ever occur
ring. La 1S47 DR.. Wells unfortunately di-
rected his attention to the study of chloro-
form and ether, believing that they were
better adapted for the purpose than nitrous
oxide In the following year he fell III
from the effects Of experimenting upon
himself and died a martyr to science on
the 9th of January, 1s48, at thirty-three
years of age, when the medical world was
about to pay him the honors his labors
merited.
After his death the gas was not generally
used for some years, but was finally taken
up by dentists and physicians all over the
country and by others who, through igno-
rance or recklessness, were and are abusing
it. Statistics show that there has nevei
yet been single death caused by the in
halation of pure nitrous oxide.
1t would not be surprising if the original
discovery of the peculiar properties OF
nitrous oxide were purely accidental. We
can be absolutely certain, however, that its
application to the painless extraction OF
teeth was the result of accident. In proof
of this DR.. John N. Riggs wrote to DR..
Hasbrouck in 1872 an account of the exhi
bition which he accompanied by DR..
Horace Wells, witnessed when the idea
first occurred to the latter gentleman that
laughing gas might be successfully used
as an anaSthetic.
"At that exhibition" says DR.. Riggs
CDR. Horace Wells was present, and then
and there conceived the idea, from an acct
dent, that the gas could be used to extract
teeth without pain" Then, after describ
ing how Wells determined to have tooth
extracted under it's influence, he went on
TO say he invited the party-Colton, Cody
and two others-to come up and witness
the operation. l was attending to pa
tient, but was awaiting Wells return
When l entered Wells Office the said party
was there Wells took his seat in the
operating chair. / examined the tooth so
as to be ready to operate without delay.
Wells took the bag in his lap, held the
tube to his mouth and inhaled until insen-
sibility relaxed the muscles Of his arms.
his hands fell on his breast, has head
dropped on the head rest, and I instantly
passed the forceps into the mouth on to the
tooth and extracted it. Mr.. Cotton, Cody
and the two others stood by the open door
ready to run out ii Wells jumped up from
the chair and made any hostile demonstra- |
tons You may ask, Why did he not get |
up? Briefly, because he could not.
Our agreement the night previous was
to push the administration TO point hith- |
erto unknown. We knew not whether |
death or success confronted us. 1t was a |
terra incognito we were bound TO explore. |
The result is known to the world. No one |
but Wells and myself knew to what point |
the inhalation was to be carried. The re-
suit was painfully problematical 10 as, but |
the great law of nature hitherto unknown |
was kind to US and grand discovery was |
born into the world Now, do not under |
stand me as claiming joint discovery with |
DR.. Wells The great idea of inspiration |
was his; that we elaborated it together |
was honor enough for me. have no feel |
ing in this matter except in the interest OF |
truth, right and Justice.
For the credit of DR.. Cotton / can say |
he made the gas, gave bag Of it to DR.. |
Wells TO experiment with, witnessed the
operation of extracting the first tooth and |
went on his way TO other cities with his |
grand exhibitions and eight strong men |
to make them laugh more than they have |
for the six months previous. New York |
Press.