Barton WPC. A dissertation on the chymical properties and exhilarating effects of nitrous oxide gas : and its application to pneumatick medicine, 1808.
Catalog Record: Barton WPC. A dissertation on the chymical properties and exhilarating effects of nitrous oxide gas : and its application to pneumatick medicine, 1808.
Title: A dissertation on the chymical properties and exhilarating effects of nitrous oxide gas : and its application to pneumatick medicine / by William P.C. Barton.
AccessKey: adoi
Author: Barton, William P. C. (William Paul Crillon), 1786-1856.
WLM Call Number: WO 278 N7 B293 1808 RB
Accession NO.: Copy 1, 1935 ; Copy 3, RB1205
Publisher: Philadelphia : printed at the Lorenzo Press, 1808.
Physical Description: xviii, 95 p. ; 21 cm.
Document Type: Thesis
Provenance: Copy 2 endpaper signed by John B. Stetson, M.D., 1958 ; Half-title cut
narrow, cutting off part of inscription on the back : … [Miss Aebecca
Aarole?] from the Author, … -y 13th 1808 ; Copy 3 is the author’s
presentation copy to his father
Subject: Nitrous Oxide.
Type of Trace: Short Title
Title: A dissertation on the chymical properties and exhilarating effects of
nitrous oxide gas.
Abstract: Replicates and defends Humphry Davy’s work on nitrous oxide, and
provides a detailed description of his subjective experience of nitrous
oxide’s effects. Barton’s dissertation influenced scientific interest
in nitrous oxide use and experimentation.
Content Notes: History — Preparation — Production from nitric oxide and nitric acid
in different modes — Production from other substances, by various
combinations and processes — Properties — Action on water — Effects
of the simple combustibles on it — Combination with the fluid
inflammable bodies — Combination with acids — Combination with gasses
— Combination with alkalies — Tests of its purity — Composition —
Decomposition by combustibles — Respiration of nitrous oxide — Mode
of respiring it — Phenomena supervening upon the respiration of it —
Changes effected in it by respiration — Effects upon Davy, and others
— Detail of some experiments performed before the chymical class in
December 1807 — Effects on warm and cold-blooded animals —
Appearances of animals killed in it, as exhibited on dissection —
Effects on venous blood — Modus operandi — Permanent effects on the
intellectual and corporeal constitutions — Application to Pneumatick
medicine — Of its effects in paralysis — Of its effects in suspended
animation — Of its effects in tetanus — Of its effects in low typhus
fever — Of its effects in mania.
General Notes: The back of the half-title of copy 3 is inscribed in light black ink to
the father of William P.C. Barton: “To William Barton Esquire, [new
line] from his affectionate [new line] Son [new line] The Author [new
line] May – 1808.”; Written on the first flyleaf in pencil is “John
Rhea Barton”.
General Notes: Conservation work to copy 3 by Scott Kellar, March 15, 2012:
Deacidified. Rebound in period full leather with appropriate tooling.
General Notes: Digitized by Northern Micrographics August 23, 2010. c.2
General Notes: The WLM copies does not include Barton’s cartoon depicting his
classmates’ silly behavior while under the influence of nitrous oxide.
General Notes: Thesis (M.D.)-University of Pennsylvania, 1807.
