The Atmosphere of Heaven
The Unnatural Experiments of Dr. Beddoes and His Sons of Genius
Rating :
Author(s) :
Pages :
294
Pub Date :
2009
Edition(s) at Erowid :
2009(hb,1st ed,f/f)
Publisher :
Yale University Press
ISBN :
0300124392
FROM THE EROWID REVIEW #
- Review by Dale Pendell, 2009 Sep 08
Mike Jay, in The Atmosphere of Heaven, explores the golden age of gentleman amateurs—the years prior to and following the French Revolution—through the life of Dr. Thomas Beddoes, the founder of the Medical Pneumatic Institution, which was dedicated to the alleviation of suffering through the new possibilities of chemical medicine, and in particular, "factitious airs", the newly isolated gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide.. . . (more)
BACK COVER #
At the Penumatic Institution in Bristol, founded in the closing years of the eighteenth century, dramatic experiments with gases precipitated a revolution not only in scientific medicine but also in the modern mind. Propelled by the energy of maverick doctor Thomas Beddoes, the Institution was both laboratory and hospital - the first example of a medical research institution. But when its researchers discovered the mind-altering properties of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, their experiments devolved into a pioneering exploration of consciousness, with far-reaching and unforseen effects.BLURBS #
"Enthralling. This is exactly the kind of cross-cultural biography we need. Lively and sympathetic, it restores the renegade Dr. Thomas Beddoes to his rightful place in scientific history, but also to his revolutionary circle of literary friends."-- Richard Holmes, author of The Age of Wonder
"The pursuit of science in the evolution of culture does not get much more hair-raising than this. Mike Jay's The Atmosphere of Heaven is history written as it should be."
-- George Rousseau, Oxford University, author, with Roy Porter, of Gout: The Patrician Malady
"This wonderfully sympathetic account is written vividly and with narrative flair. Bringing together medicine, chemistry, and politics, The Atmosphere of Heaven is a compelling read."
-- Trevor Levere, University of Toronto