Early misconceptions about nitrous oxide, an “invigorating” asphyxiant

Well into the twentieth century, nitrous oxide was often suspected to support life in the manner of oxygen. Authorities contributing to that life-threatening misimpression include Humphry Davy, Gardner Q. Colton, and George W. Crile. Concomitantly, deprivation of oxygen was long touted as a requisite for nitrous oxide anesthesia.