Early misconceptions about nitrous oxide, an "invigorating" asphyxiant.
Well into the twentieth century, nitrous oxide was often suspected to support life in the manner of oxygen. Authorities contributing to that life-threatening misimpression include Humphry Davy, Gardner Q. Colton, and George W. Crile. Concomitantly, deprivation of oxygen was long touted as a requisite for nitrous oxide anesthesia.
Alston
Theodore A
TA
Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. talston@partners.org
D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage
D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D010100:Oxygen