nitrogen narcosis

noun, Pathology
1.
a semistupor, lightheadedness, or euphoria experienced by deep-sea divers when nitrogen from air enters the blood at higher than atmospheric pressure.
Also called rapture of the deep.
Origin
1935-40
Examples from the web for nitrogen narcosis
  • nitrogen narcosis is a danger because it impairs judgement and sensory perception.
nitrogen narcosis in Medicine

nitrogen narcosis n.

  1. Narcosis produced by nitrogenous materials such as those occurring in certain forms of uremia and hepatic coma.

  2. A stuporous condition variously characterized by disorientation, euphoria, and loss of judgment and skill, attributed to nitrogen entering the blood during breathing of normal air at increased pressure, as occurs with deep-sea divers. Also called rapture of the deep.