Effect of Nitrous Oxide on the White-Cell Count in Leukemia

Abstract
TOXICITY from nitrous oxide has been assumed to be entirely the effect of associated reduction of oxygen tension. Goldman,1 in 1928, reported the intermittent administration of nitrous oxide to rats and mice during a two-month study. He observed no deleterious effects. The first indication that nitrous oxide might have a toxic effect to man came in 1955, when Gormsen2 presented the results of treatment of a case of tetanus in which nitrous oxide was used along with chlorpromazine and curare. The thrombocytopenia and leukopenia occurring on the fifth day of treatment were attributed to curare.Mollaret,3 in the same year, . . .