DELIRIUM TREMENS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 407, 11 January 1877, Page 3

DELIRIUM TREMENS.

[B7 BEV. E. EOYEB.]

The evil consequences of drinking, both in a moral and physical point of view, eeem to have b<*en known from the most remote antiquity." They are expressly mentioned in Holy Scripture; nor can *Wj*e be a doubt that the Homeric fiction of tho companions of Ulysses being turned into swine by the enchanted cup of Circe plainly implied the bestial degradation into which individual bring themselves by coming under the dominion of King liucchus. This day I shall simply proceed to detail the effects of drunkenness in the case of delirium tremens. Both the symptoms and treatment of this disease requiro to be mentioned, because/ unlike tho affections of the liver, stomach, brain, kidneys, blood, and breath, per api ration, eyes, skin, hair, gout, heart, epilepsy, emaciation, corpulency, ulcers, madness, melancholy, etc., etc, it invariably arises from the abuse of stimulants, and is c ured in a manner peculiar to itaolf. Persons who indulge in spirits, especially raw, are most subject to delirium tremens, although malt liquor, opium, wine, and even ether may give rise to it, if taken in immoderate quantities. The sudden cessation of drinking in a confirmed toper, or a course of violent or long-protracted intemperance,may equally occasion the disease. A man, for example, of the former description breaks his leg, or is seized with some complaint, which compels him to abandon his potations. This man, in consequence of such abstinence, is attacked with delirium tremens. Iu another, it is induced by along course of tippling, or by a hard drinking bout of several clays' continuance. Generally delirium tremens comes on with lassitude, loss of appetite, and frequent exacerbation*, of cold. The ptttee is weak and quick, and the body covered with a chilly moisture. The countenance is pale ; there are usually tremors of the limbs, anxiety, and a total disrelish for the common amusements of life. Then succeed retch • ing, Vomiting, and much oppression at the pit oHjw stomach, with sometimes slimy stoolfT When the drunkard sleeps, which is but seldom, he frequently starts in the utmost terror, having his imagination Imu4ted.by.frifjhtfiil dreams. To the first coldness glows of heat succeed, and the slightest renewed agitation of mind brwly snids out a profile perspiration j

tongue is dry and furred; every ob-. jectappears unnatural atid hideous J there is a perpetual or constant dread of being haunted by spectres; luminous, or black bodies seem to float before the drunkard ; hd conceives that all sorts of impure things and vermin are crawling upon him, and is constantly endeavoring to pick them off. His ideas are wholly confined to .himself and his own'affairs, of which he entertains the most disordered notions; he imagines that he is away from home, forgets those who are around shim, frequently abuses his attendants, and is irritated beyond measure by the slightest contradiction. r ' .Calculations, building, farming, mining, ; and other fantastic schemes often occupy his mind,.and a-be-lief that every person, is confederated to ruin him is commonly entertained. Towards morning there is often much sickness, and sometimes vomitting. Delirium tremens generally lasts from four to ten days, and goes after a refreshing sleep ; but sometimes, either 1 from improper treatment, or from the original violence of the affectioQ, it proves fatal. In nine cases out of ten such is the character of delirium tremens. Sometimes, however, the symptoms vary, and instead of a weak there is a full pulse -, instead of the face being pallid'it' is flushed, and the eyes fiery ; instead of a cold,,clammy skin, the surface is hot and' <3ry. This state only occurs in vigorous, plethoric individuals. A habitually 'sober person, "who has thoughtlessly rushed into a debauch, is more likely to .be..attacked■ in-this.manner ithan a professed 'drunkard. X may remark that, when the drunkard perishes from delirium tremens, he is generally carried off Ha convulsions. Sometimes the disease assumes the character of confirmed idiotism, or iqadness. Indeed, in a great many cases, there is danger .of the mind becoming alienated. The following are, in my opinion, indications of ,great danger: low delirium, very cold skin, contracted pupils,' short disturbed sleep, rapid intermittent pulse, sub sultus, sir a bismus, and frequent vomiting; and when the unfortunate drunkard is affected with sub sultus, from which he recovers in terror, the danger is extreme. In treating delirium tremens particular attention must be paid to the nature of the disease, and constitution of the drunkard. If possible, a medical doctor must attend, and treat the case. ;

In conclusion, allow me to make the following observation,—that the habit ,of drinking proceeds very frequently from misfortunes in life. The drunkard flies to it for relief. It affords him indeed a temporary ease, but, alas! this solace is very short, and when it is over the mind sinks as much below its usual tone as it had before been raised above it. Hence a repetition of the drink becomes necessary ; and every fresh drink makes, way for another, till the unfortunate drunkard becomes a slave to the bottle, and at length falls a sacrifice to what at first, perhaps, was taken only as a medicine. No individual is so dejected as. the drunkard when his debauch has gone cff. Hence it is that those persons who have the greatest flow of spirits while they are drinking freely are, of all others, the most melancholy when sober, and often put an end to their own miserable existence in a fit of spleen or ill-humor. Drunkenness is not in itself a most abominable vice, but is an inducement to many others. There ia hardly one crime go horrid that the confirmed drunkard will not perpetrate for the love of liquor.