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From: scherle@dogpound.corp.sgi.com (Rick Scherle)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: Re: (3223)      Massage Oil Alternatives and Dentists
Message-ID: <1991Jun6.115739.14676@cs.ucla.edu>
Date: 5 Jun 91 21:52:26 GMT
References: <1991Jun5.030855.14749@cs.ucla.edu>
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In article <1991Jun5.030855.14749@cs.ucla.edu>, IQTI400%INDYCMS.BITNET@mvs.oac.ucla.edu (MacPhil) writes:
|> On Tue, 4 Jun 91 14:52:47 pdt Support Account for SCI.MED.AIDS said:
|> >  Cent #2- Nitrous Oxide (aka laughing gas) is one of the most popular gas-
|> >narcotics used by DMDs.  It has long been known that, in addition to being
|> >a narcotic, it is also a mild hallucinogen and erotic agent leading to the many
|> >allegations of dentists molesting patients.  It is all in their heads.
|> >
|> 
|> It is also explosive and quite toxic.  AND it is still used to pressurize
|> whipped cream cans.  Every-now-and-then, one will hear about someone who
|> has broken in to a dentist's office or dental school and swiped a tank
|> of nitrous.  Often the culprit or the purchaser of the stolen tank is found
|> dead as a result of a nitrous overdose.

First, Nitrous is NEITHER explosive NOR toxic.  Nitrous is not only not flammable, 
it does not even support combustion (except under certain conditions of high
temperature/pressure).

Second, Nitrous is not toxic.  However, if you breathe any gas or gas mixture
which does not contain oxygen for more than a few breaths, you will become light-
headed and pass out.  If you have been foolish enough to rig a breathing mask for
yourself (instead of breathing the Nitrous from a balloon or trashbag) you will
probably die of asphyxiation.

Finally, there HAVE been some reports of people who are chronically exposed to Nitrous
(like Dentists) developing some neurological problems.  I am not sure of whether
Nitrous was actually proved to be the cause in these cases, but in any event, you
would REALLY have to do it a LOT for a LONG TIME to have this happen to you.

By the way, you don't have to steal Nitrous; it is available from any industrial
gas supplier (but if you order too much, they have to report it to the DEA).