An effective anaesthetic
In 1776, Joseph Priestly discovered nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. His invention rapidly became popular and was used during society gatherings or at fairgrounds as entertainment. An American dentist, Horace Wells, who attended one of these events, discovered that the nitrous gas blocked feelings of pain when an actor, who was under the influence of the gas, fell but seemed unhurt. From 1844 onwards, Doctor Wells began using the gas in his practice as an anaesthetic.
