lt a sense of tangible extension
highly pleasurable in every limb; my visible impressions were dazzling
and apparently magnified, I heard distinctly every sound in the room,
and was perfectly aware of my situation. By degrees, as the pleasurable
sensations increased, I lost all connection with external things;
trains of vivid visible images rapidly passed through my mind and
were connected with words in such a manner as to produce perceptions
perfectly novel.

"I existed in a world of newly connected and newly modified ideas. I
theorized; I imagined that I made discoveries. When I was awakened from
this semi-delirious trance by Dr. Kinglake, who took the bag from my
mouth, indignation and pride were the first feelings produced by the
sight of persons about me. My emotions were enthusiastic and sublime;
and for a minute I walked about the room perfectly regardless of what
was said to me. As I recovered my former state of mind, I felt an
inclination to communicate the discoveries I had made during the
experiment. I endeavored to recall the ideas--they were feeble and
indistinct; one collection of terms, however, presented itself, and,
with most intense belief and prophetic manner, I exclaimed to Dr.
Kinglake, 'Nothing exists but thoughts!--the universe is composed of
impressions, ideas, pleasures, and pains.' "(3)

From this account we see that Davy has anaesthetized himself to a point
where consciousness of surroundings was lost, but not past the stage
of exhilaration. Had Dr. Kinglake allowed the inhaling-bag to remain in
Davy's mouth for a few moments longer complete insensibility would have
followed. As it was, Davy appears to have realized that sensibility was
dulled, for he adds this illuminative suggestion: "As nitrous oxide in
its extensive operation appears capable of destroying physical pain, it
may probably be used with advantage during surgical operations in which
no great effusion of blood takes place."(4)

Unfortunately no one took advantage of this suggestion at the time,
and Davy himself became interested in other fields of science and never
returned to his physiological studies, thus barely missing one of the
greatest discoveries in the entire field of science. In the generation
that followed no one seems to have thought of putting Davy's suggestion
to the test, and the surgeons of Europe had acknowledged with one accord
that all hope of finding a means to render operations painless must be
utterly a