ThePneumatic Institution (also referred to asPneumatic Institute) was a medical research facility inBristol, England, in 1799–1802. It was established by physician and science writerThomas Beddoes to study the medical effects of gases, known asfactitious airs, that had recently been discovered.Humphry Davy headed the Institution's laboratory, examining the effects oflaughing gas on himself and others, andJames Watt designed much of the lab's equipment.
AfterLavoisier had established the role ofoxygen in animal respiration, members of theLunar Society, such asJoseph Priestley (who had co-discovered oxygen), originatedpneumatic chemistry, which eventually led to the establishment of the Pneumatic Institution.[1]
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, who was unusually educated about Chemistry,[2] visited Thomas Beddoes in his laboratory in Hope Square, Bristol, in December 1793.[2] He had set it up earlier that year to study possible medical uses of the recently discovered gases.[2] During her second, extended, visit, "the idea of replacing the existing outpatient facility with a hospital—a Medical Pneumatic Institution—was first formulated."[2] In 1794, she tried to persuadeSir Joseph Banks, who wasPresident of the Royal Society of London at the time, to lend support to Beddoes' efforts.[2] Banks refused, citing scientific objections in addition to his political concerns about Beddoes' sympathising with theFrench Revolution.[2] Even a supporting request from Watt did not change Banks' mind.[2]
Beddoes had moved from Oxford in 1793 and established himself as a physician. He moved to theHotwells area of Bristol, where thegeothermal springs had been credited with healing properties since the 15th century, and which had become a locus for tuberculosis sufferers seeking a cure.[3] By 1794 Beddoes had arranged for the manufacture of suitable apparatus by the firm ofBoulton and Watt and the first of the "pneumatic patients" was a Mr Knight ofPainswick, whom Beddoes treated with "unrespirable airs" for a pelvic ulcer. By 5 March 1795 Beddoes was reporting successful treatment of paralytic patients and ordering an apparatus and oxygen for a Mr Gladwell in Clifton.[4]
Between 1792 and 1798, Beddoes had collected and published many "case histories" sent to him by other sympathetic physicians, from many parts of the country, and principally concerning the inhalation ofoxygen andhydrogen.[5]
In November 1798, Beddoes rented two buildings at 6 and 7Dowry Square, in Hotwells,[6] and in March 1799 the laboratory was moved into the smaller one and theInstitution was publicly announced.[6] Beddoes anticipated that scientific investigations and medical treatment would be carried out side by side.
In March 1798 Humphry Davy had become interested in the issue after reading Samuel Latham Mitchell'sRemarks on the gaseous oxyd of nitrogen and its effects (1795) which claimed that nitrous oxide would have a catastrophic impact if inhaled or placed in contact with a patient's skin, going as far as to suggest that it was the very "principle of contagion".[7]
Davy joined thePneumatic Institution in 1798 as the laboratory operator,[8] largely through the recommendation ofDavies Giddy, and it was here that he undertook experiments that included himself inhalingnitrous oxide,[9] which he calledlaughing gas for its effects.[9] Davy wrote up an account of his investigations at the Institution which was published byJohn Murray in 1800 as,Researches, chemical and philosophical, chiefly concerning nitrous oxide, or dephlogisticated nitrous air, and its respiration.[8]
This and other gases were administered, without charge, to willing subjects, particularly those with diseases considered to be incurable at the time.[10] Although the initial aim had been to treat patients with tuberculosis, most of the patients treated suffered from some form of paralysis.[7]
James Watt supported theInstitution because conventional methods had failed to help against his son'spulmonary tuberculosis (known asconsumption at the time), which had previously claimed his daughter Jessie.[11] The suggestion of engaging Beddoes to treat Jessie had been made byErasmus Darwin, and Beddoes undertook to administer "fixt air" (carbon dioxide), despite the absence of suitable equipment. The treatment had no beneficial effect and Watt's daughter died.[12]
Watt designed many of the apparatuses and techniques necessary to produce and administer various gases.[13]
ThePneumatic Institution was converted into a normal hospital whentyphus broke out in Bristol in 1800.[13] Davy left in 1801 to join Sir Joseph at theRoyal Institution.[10] The BristolPneumatic Institution closed down in 1802.[10] Many of the techniques and tools developed by Watt for thePneumatic Institution are still used in modern medicine.[13]
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Atmosphere of Heaven.
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