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How New Gas Applications were Developed

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History of Industrial Gases

Abstract

Pneumatic medicine, the use of gas in medical therapy, became popular in the early 1770s when doctors in England and France began introducing various gases into the body. The first gas used was carbon dioxide, which was used to treat diarrhea. It was also inhaled for diseases such as sore throat or tuberculosis and was applied directly on the skin as a treatment for breast cancer. Joseph Priestley tried breathing his newly discovered gas, oxygen, and found that “his breast felt peculiarly light and easy for some time afterwards.” He was one of the first to suggest the therapeutic use of artificially obtained gases. He persuaded the British Lords of the Admiralty in 1772 to equip Captain James Cook’s ships on his second voyage to the South Seas with devices to produce carbonated water in an attempt to cure or prevent scurvy.

Oh, Tom! Such a gas has Davy discovered! Oh, Tom! I have had some. It made me laugh and tingle in every toe and finger tip. It makes one strong. And so happy! So gloriously happy! Oh excellent gas bag! Tom, I am sure the air in heaven must be this wonder working gas of delight.

Robert Southey (a friend of Humphry Davy)

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  1. Ebbe Almqvist Consulting, Sweden

    Ebbe Almqvist

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Almqvist, E. (2003). How New Gas Applications were Developed. In: History of Industrial Gases. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0197-8_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0197-8_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-4962-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0197-8

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