The article mentions childbirth: my mum, an MD, tells me that as late as the mid 1960s nitrous was the only option provided, in Australia at least.
I used to go to a dentist who had a heavy hand on the nitrous. Not enough to make you giggle and sing (how could he then work in your mouth) but enough to get me really zonked, though not enough to have residual excitement as described by the author. He later sold his practice and the new dentist was able to administer just enough that I didn't care that she was poking in my mouth but no other effects. Which, TTTT, is what I prefer.
