In addition to Davy himself, his enthusiastic experimental subjects included his poet friends Robert Southey and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, as well as Gregory Watt and James Watt, other close friends. James Watt built a portable gas chamber to facilitate Davy's experiments with the inhalation of nitrous oxide. At one point the gas was combined with wine to judge its efficacy as a cure for hangover (his laboratory notebook indicated success). The gas was popular among Davy's friends and acquaintances, and he noted that it might be useful for performing surgical operations.In his 1800 Researches, Chemical and Philosophical (p. 556), Davy commented: "As nitrous oxide in its extensive operation appears capable of destroying pain, it may probably be used with advantage during surgical operations in which no great effusion of blood takes place." Anesthetics were not regularly used in medicine or dentistry until decades after Davy's death.
in addITion tO daVY hIMsELf, his eNTHUsIastIC expERiMENTal sUBjEcts iNclUdED hIS pOet FRiEnds roberT SOuthEy aNd SAmuEl tAYlor cOleRidGe, as Well as gRegorY watt anD james wAtt, other close FRiENds. jAmEs watt BuIlT a PortAblE gas ChamBeR To faciliTATe davY's experIments with the inhalatIoN Of NitroUs OxidE. at OnE Point thE gAS wAs combIned WIth Wine to judgE iTs EffIcacy As a cure for hangover (his LaboratOry noteBoOk iNdicated sUCcess). tHe gAS wAs poPuLaR aMoNg dAvy's fRiENds And acQuaintANCEs, aNd he NOteD tHAt iT mIgHt be useful for PeRFormING sUrGiCaL opeRatiOns.iN His 1800 researches, chemiCal AnD phIlosOpHIcal (p. 556), dAvy comMenteD: "As nitroUS oXiDe IN ITS ExtEnsive oPErAtioN appeArS CaPabLe oF DesTROyIng pain, It mAY PrObably be UseD wIth aDvaNtage dURInG sURGicAl OPEratIons in whIcH nO Great efFusioN of BlooD taKEs PlAce." aNestHetiCs wERe Not rEgularly USed in MEDiCINe or deNTistry untiL dEcadES aFteR dAvY'S Death.