Sleeping gas
Encyclopedia
Sleeping gas is an oneirogen
ic general anaesthetic
that is used to put a subject into a state where they are not conscious of what is happening around them. Incapacitating agent
is a related general term for "knockout gases" or "KO gas" that ideally render a person unable to harm themselves or others, regardless of consciousness
.
Most sleeping gases have undesirable side effects, or are effective at doses that approach toxicity.
Examples of modern volatile anaesthetics that may be considered sleeping gases are halothane
vapour (Fluothane), methyl propyl ether (Neothyl), methoxyflurane
(Penthrane), and the undisclosed fentanyl derivative delivery system used by the FSB in the Moscow theater hostage crisis
.
The volatile anaesthetics noted above have odors. Odorless gases, eg. methane
(CH4), carbon dioxide
(CO2) and carbon monoxide
(CO), are a serious public health
concern because people/animals may not be alerted to escape.
Possible side effects might not prevent use of sleeping gas by criminals willing to murder, or carefully control the dose on a single already sleepy individual. There are urban legend
s of thieves spraying sleeping gases on campers, or in train compartments in some parts of Europe. Alarm
s are sold to detect and alert to such attacks, so a potential risk is believed by some people
Fictional use of sleeping gas often involves stealth, as does criminal use of sleeping pills
and poison
s. In these works of fiction, sleeping gas is used by a character to incapacitate other characters. In some cases, science fiction
or fantasy
films depict the use of large quantities of sleeping gas to put large numbers of people to sleep. Suffocation
is a concern even for non-toxic gases. To prevent in-home death, many countries require natural gas
to have odorants added to the gas.
Oneirogen
Oneirogen, from the Greek oneiros meaning "dream" and gen "to create," describes that which produces a dream-like state of consciousness. Usually used in reference to drugs such as Artemisia vulgaris , Calea zacatechichi , Entada rheedii , Silene capensis , Tabernanthe iboga, and Salvia Divinorum,...
ic general anaesthetic
General anaesthetic
A general anaesthetic is a drug that brings about a reversible loss of consciousness. These drugs are generally administered by an anaesthesia provider to induce or maintain general anaesthesia to facilitate surgery...
that is used to put a subject into a state where they are not conscious of what is happening around them. Incapacitating agent
Incapacitating agent
The term incapacitating agent is defined by the U.S. Department of Defense asLethal agents are primarily intended to kill, but incapacitating agents can also kill if administered in a potent enough dose, or in certain scenarios....
is a related general term for "knockout gases" or "KO gas" that ideally render a person unable to harm themselves or others, regardless of consciousness
Consciousness
Consciousness is a term that refers to the relationship between the mind and the world with which it interacts. It has been defined as: subjectivity, awareness, the ability to experience or to feel, wakefulness, having a sense of selfhood, and the executive control system of the mind...
.
Most sleeping gases have undesirable side effects, or are effective at doses that approach toxicity.
Examples of modern volatile anaesthetics that may be considered sleeping gases are halothane
Halothane
Halothane is an inhalational general anesthetic. Its IUPAC name is 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane. It is the only inhalational anesthetic agent containing a bromine atom; there are several other halogenated anesthesia agents which lack the bromine atom and do contain the fluorine and...
vapour (Fluothane), methyl propyl ether (Neothyl), methoxyflurane
Methoxyflurane
Methoxyflurane is a halogenated ether that was in clinical use as an volatile inhalational anesthetic from its introduction by Joseph F. Artusio et al in 1960 until around 1974. It was first synthesized in the late 1940s by William T...
(Penthrane), and the undisclosed fentanyl derivative delivery system used by the FSB in the Moscow theater hostage crisis
Moscow theater hostage crisis
The Moscow theater hostage crisis, also known as the 2002 Nord-Ost siege, was the seizure of the crowded Dubrovka Theater on 23 October 2002 by some 40 to 50 armed Chechens who claimed allegiance to the Islamist militant separatist movement in Chechnya. They took 850 hostages and demanded the...
.
The volatile anaesthetics noted above have odors. Odorless gases, eg. methane
Methane
Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, the principal component of natural gas, and probably the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel...
(CH4), carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
(CO2) and carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide , also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal...
(CO), are a serious public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
concern because people/animals may not be alerted to escape.
Possible side effects might not prevent use of sleeping gas by criminals willing to murder, or carefully control the dose on a single already sleepy individual. There are urban legend
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
s of thieves spraying sleeping gases on campers, or in train compartments in some parts of Europe. Alarm
Alarm
An alarm device or system of alarm devices gives an audible or visual alarm signal about a problem or condition.Alarm devices include:* burglar alarms, designed to warn of burglaries; this is often a silent alarm: the police or guards are warned without indication to the burglar, which increases...
s are sold to detect and alert to such attacks, so a potential risk is believed by some people
Fictional use of sleeping gas often involves stealth, as does criminal use of sleeping pills
Sleeping pills
Sleeping pills may refer to:*Hypnotic, a drug used to induce sleep*Sleeping Pills , an American film by Michael Lauter...
and poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
s. In these works of fiction, sleeping gas is used by a character to incapacitate other characters. In some cases, science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
or fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
films depict the use of large quantities of sleeping gas to put large numbers of people to sleep. Suffocation
Suffocation
Suffocation is the process of Asphyxia.Suffocation may also refer to:* Suffocation , an American death metal band* "Suffocation", a song on Morbid Angel's debut album, Altars of Madness...
is a concern even for non-toxic gases. To prevent in-home death, many countries require natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
to have odorants added to the gas.