Ever wonder how laughing gas went from Victorian party entertainment to dental offices? Our journey through the life of Humphrey Davy reveals the surprisingly wild origin story behind one of medicine's most unusual discoveries.

Born in 1778 in Cornwall, England, Davy was an unremarkable student from a simple town where wrestling and cockfighting were preferred to intellectual pursuits. After being apprenticed to a local surgeon following his father's death, Davy began conducting chemistry experiments that drove his family crazy – his sister complained about ruined dresses while friends joked he might "blow us all into the air."

The turning point came in 1798 when Davy joined the Pneumatic Institution, a medical research facility studying how gases affected the human body. While other scientists were cautious, Davy took the bold step of regularly inhaling nitrous oxide himself. What followed were what could only be described as the world's first "whippet parties," where Davy invited fellow scientists and poets to experience this mysterious gas. Their reports ranged from feeling "the most pleasurable thing I've ever experienced" to the delightfully bizarre "I feel like the sound of a harp" and "I see God and also I have no toes."

Davy's meticulous documentation of these experiences in a 580-page book included the prophetic observation that nitrous oxide "may probably be used with advantage during surgical operations" – though it would take another 40+ years before American dentist Horace Wells would make the connection between the recreational gas and painless dental procedures. Even then, a botched public demonstration (where the patient woke mid-procedure) temporarily derailed nitrous oxide's medical future.

The story of laughing gas reminds us that the line between recreational substances and medical breakthroughs is often surprisingly thin, and that some of our most valuable medical tools came from scientists willing to experiment on themselves first. Join us as we explore how a young scientist's parties changed the future of pain management forever.

Curious about more bizarre medical discoveries or have a strange historical tale you'd like us to investigate? Email us at historybuffoonspodcast@gmail.com or find us on social media as History Buffoons Podcast.

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What drives a soldier to charge toward enemy lines one minute before a ceasefire? Henry Gunther's tragic story serves as a haunting reminder of war's senseless waste.

Born to German-American parents and growing up in a predominantly German neighborhood in Baltimore, Gunther was drafted into WWI in mid-1918 after initially avoiding enlistment due to his heritage. As a supply sergeant in France, his fate took a devastating turn after writing a letter home describing the brutal conditions and discouraging his friend from enlisting. Military censors intercepted it, considering it a violation of the Espionage Act. Though not court-martialed, Gunther was demoted to private, casting a shadow of suspicion over him due to his German background.

The humiliation transformed him. Fellow soldiers noticed how he volunteered for dangerous missions and became obsessed with proving his loyalty. Even after being shot in the wrist, he bound the wound and reported for duty without complaint. His opportunity for redemption came on November 11, 1918 – the day the Armistice was signed.

Though the peace agreement had been formalized at 5 AM, Allied commanders insisted fighting continue until 11 AM. At 10:44, Gunther's unit received orders to hold position. When they encountered a German machine gun nest, the enemy soldiers had already stopped firing, waiting for the official ceasefire. Despite warnings from both sides, Gunther suddenly charged forward alone. At 10:59 AM, one minute before peace, he was cut down by machine gun fire.

The military posthumously restored his rank and awarded him the Distinguished Service Cross. His gravestone in Baltimore reads: "highly decorated for exceptional bravery and heroic action that resulted in his death one minute before the armistice."

Gunther wasn't alone in his unnecessary death – nearly 2,738 Allied soldiers died in the hours after peace was signed but before it took effect. His story forces us to confront war's absurdity and the tragic cost of military pride. Join us as we explore this heartbreaking chapter of history that forever changed how we memorialize November 11th.

The Last Official Death of WWI Was a Man Who Sought Redemption by Christopher Klein

herocards.ushistory.com

Armistice left some New York Guard Soldiers with mixed feelings

By Eric Durr New York National Guard

history.comnationalguard.mil

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This website contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the running of this website and allows me to continue providing valuable content. Please note that I only recommend products and services that I believe in and have personally used or researched.

The forgotten criminal dynasty that ruled Illinois before Capone even knew their names. Meet the Shelton brothers – Carl, Earl, and Bernie – three farm boys who transformed themselves into the most powerful bootleggers in southern Illinois during Prohibition and later controlled Peoria's entire vice scene.

When Prohibition turned alcohol illegal, the Sheltons built an empire of roadhouses, stills, and speakeasies across "Little Egypt" in southern Illinois. Their rivalry with former gang member Charlie Birger escalated into what can only be described as private warfare, complete with armored cars, machine guns, and even aerial bombings that left dozens dead. All while law enforcement conveniently looked the other way in exchange for what one sheriff called "a really nice Christmas bonus."

By the 1940s, the Shelton brothers had relocated to Peoria, transforming Illinois' second-largest city into what became known as a "Wide Open City." They established the Peoria Amusement Company, running hundreds of slot machines, gambling dens, and brothels while maintaining what they called "gangland peacekeeping." During World War II, with two military bases nearby, soldiers with paychecks made the Sheltons wealthier than ever.

The brothers survived assassination attempts from Chicago mobsters, maintained political connections that kept them untouchable, and brought a strange form of order to the criminal underworld. As one historian noted, "As long as the Sheltons were running things, you weren't getting robbed at random." But their empire couldn't last forever. Between 1947 and 1950, a mysterious assassination campaign eliminated all three brothers, with the killers never identified.

Discover the remarkable story of how three brothers built and lost an empire that rivaled Al Capone's, leaving behind a legacy that's been largely forgotten by history. If you enjoy untold stories of Prohibition gangsters, territorial wars, and mysterious unsolved assassinations, you won't want to miss this episode.

Tara McClellan McAndrew, NPR Illinois – "Booze, Blood And Bombs: Prohibition In Southern Illinois" (2020)nprillinois.orgnprillinois.org

Joel J. Hutchcroft, Shooting Times – "A Bloody Band of Bootleggers: The Shelton Brothers Gang" (2021)shootingtimes.comshootingtimes.com

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This website contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the running of this website and allows me to continue providing valuable content. Please note that I only recommend products and services that I believe in and have personally used or researched.