The administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen for dental operations / by Frederick W. Hewitt.

  • Hewitt, Frederic W. (Frederic William), Sir, 1857-1916.
Date:
1901
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen for dental operations / by Frederick W. Hewitt. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    similar to those experienced under nitrous oxide itself. There is, however, one import- ant difference, viz., that the small quantity of oxygen usually prevents all feelings of suffoca- tion. There is, moreover, less tinnitus than with the pure gas. It may be said, in fact, that provided the clothing be absolutely loose and that the patient breathe freely through the mouth, the administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen may be conducted without any dis- comfort to the patient. Consciousness is not lost quite so quickly as with nitrous oxide alone ; but in other respects the early sensa- tions are identical, and need not therefore be described. The anaesthetist has now to pay attention to three points at the same time. He has (i) to keep the face-piece very accurately applied ; (2) to keep the two bags equally and only partly distended ; and (3) to increase or diminish the proportion of oxygen according to the symptoms of the patient. It will there- fore be advisable to consider the remainino- part of the administration under these three heads. (i) The fitting of the face-piece. Whilst there is much to be said in favour of the face- piece, as opposed to the mouth-tube, for nitrous oxide inhalation, there can be no doubt that it is more difficult, when employing the former, to