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478 DENTAL MEDICINE.

"surgical period," as it is termed, is generally manifested by snor-
ing, although this symptom does not invariably occur; when it
does, however, it indicates a state of profound anaesthesia, to
which it is unnecessary to carry the patient when performing
many minor surgical operations.
As more or less excitement follows the inhalation of this gas,
when it is largely mixed with atmospheric air, such a condition
is either prevented or abbreviated by holding the nose of the pa-
tient during the inhalation. The- patient should not partake of
food for at least two hours before the administration of the gas,
but at the same time should not be in a weakened condition
for want of it ; and the dress, if tight, should be previously
loosened, and as soon as the operation is completed the head
should be gently moved to one side, to allow the blood to es-
cape from the mouth. Fresh air should then be admitted into
the room, and the patient supplied with it by means of a fan.
(See Administration of Anaesthetics.)
Therapeutic and Dental Uses.—According to the investigations
of Dr. Ziegler, nitrous oxide is an efficient restorative when ad-
ministered either in its gaseous state by the lungs, or in con-
junction with liquids by the alimentary canal. He recommends
the use of this gas in moderate quantities, so as not to generate
too much carbonic acid. Regarding nitrous oxide and oxygen
as of primary importance in asphyxia, and the natural anti-
dotes to narcotizing agents and asphyxiated conditions, he advo-
cates their use whenever practicable, either alone or in combina-
tion with heat, and claims that they will often save life in appar-
ently hopeless cases.
The rapid action of nitrous oxide and the transient nature of
its effects on the system, render it a very useful anaesthetic agent
for all minor surgical operations—such as extracting teeth, lan-
cing abscesses, devitalizing nerves of teeth, etc., etc. It has also
been successfully employed in the performance of some capital
surgical operations, where the anaesthesia has been kept up from
fifteen minutes to half an hour.
Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen or Air^ Combined.—Oxygen gas may
be combined with nitrous oxide gas with great advantage; also