Thomas Beddoes to James Watt Jr, 27 June 1799
267 June 1799
Dear Sir
Perhaps you have heard something about the extraordinary qualities of a gas called the gaseous oxyd of azote though I believe our wonder-working gas is not exactly that which others mention under that name. I refer to my last letter to your father for some particulars – Since that was written, Davy has worked incessantly at the chemistry of this elastic fluid – & as we concluded that it wd be of use in palsy & in hopeless cases of debility, perhaps old age, we have begun the cautious trial of it – & though I wd not hazard an opinion upon the facts hitherto observed, but it is certain an hemiplegic patient, the only one of that description that has yet offered, has thrown away his crutch & walks without support. Every thing conspires to shew that the striking change in this man was effected by the air he took no medicine & made no change in his living – we have only to pray that the amendment may continue & be permanent – & the present will be the most splendid aera in medicine – for we entertain no doubt but what has happened to this man will happen to many others – & the effect on healthy persons, almost invariably, assures us that we have got hold of one of the most extraordinary powers, ever applied to the human system, which if we can learn to manage, we shall effect great things – Pray communicate this to your father. At present if you please do not let it go further –
By Mr R. Boulton’s kindness, I expect to be put in possession of a number of curious German publications on physiology – I propose to attempt to fill up the outline, drawn in the lecture you know of, as I think it will be of immense advantage to popularize the knowledge of animal nature – I have 2 or 3 articles of your property – which I mention lest you shd suppose I mean to embezzle them –
Yrs most truly
Thomas Beddoes
P. S. T. Wedgwood & I are in your debt on acct. of a Welch excursion
Address: James Watt Esq Junr / Soho / Birmingham
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / Bristol 29 June 99 // Effects of the Gaseous oxyd of azote
MS: LoB MS 3219/6/2/B/73