nt which dulls, deadens, or otherwise destroys the realization
of pain. This is the condition aimed at by the proper administration
of any form of "twilight sleep," whether by the scopolamin-morphin
method, or by the nitrous oxid ("sunrise slumber") method.

Any method of treatment which can more or less destroy the pain of
labor without in any way interfering with its progress, and which in
no way complicates its course or leaves behind any bad effects on
either mother or child, must certainly be hailed with joy by both the
patient and the physician. While chloroform has served these purposes
fairly well, there have been numerous drawbacks and certain dangers;
and it was the knowledge of these limitations in the use of both
chloroform and ether, that has led to further experimentation and the
development of these newer methods of producing satisfactory
analgesia--freedom from pain--without bringing about such a state of
profound anesthesia as accompanies the administration of the older
methods.

It should be borne in mind that in using "sunrise slumber" (nitrous
oxid) for labor pains, the gas is so administered that the patient is
just kept on the "borderline"--in a typical "twilight" state--and not
in the condition of deep anesthesia which is developed when nitrous
oxid is employed by physicians and dentists as an anesthetic for major
and minor surgical operations.

Analgesia is the first stage of anesthesia--the "twilight zone" of
approaching unconsciousness--in which the sense of pain is greatly
dulled or entirely lost, while even that which is experienced is not
remembered. It seems to the authors that "gas" is the ideal drug for
producing this condition whenever it is necessary, as nitrous oxid is
the most volatile of anaesthetics, acts most quickly, and its effects
pass away most rapidly, while its administration is under the most
perfect control--it may be administered with any desired proportion of
oxygen--and may be discontinued on a moment's notice. It is
practically free from danger even when continued as an analgesic for
several hours. Nitrous oxid never causes any serious disturbance in
the unborn child, as chloroform sometimes does when used too
liberally.

EFFECTS OF NITROUS OXID

It will not be necessary to compare the favorable and unfavorable
claims for nitrous oxid as we did the contentions for and against
"twilight sleep." Whatever service "laughing gas" or "sunrise slumber"
can render the