ABSTRACT
Most civilisations have developed analgesic recipes of varying efficacy composed of mixtures of ingredients such as alcohol, opium, scopolamine, hemp and cannabis. In the Western world, Mandragora was used in 1298 ad by another prominent surgeon, Theodoric of Lucca, for its ability to provide surgical relief; he soaked a sponge in a mixture of opium and mandrake and applied it to the patient's face to inhale. Nitrous oxide was isolated by Joseph Priestley, who wrote up his research on gases in 1774. In 1798, Thomas Beddoes founded the Pneumatic Institute in Bristol to research the therapeutic potential of gases. He collaborated with James Watt, of steam engine fame, to design equipment that could deliver Priestley's gases. Humphry Davy was appointed director of the institute and conducted several experiments using nitrous oxide, which he discovered relieved him of toothache and made him giggle.
