Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-03-08
From thc New York Tribune

DELERIUM TREMENS-A SKETCH.
The delcrium tremens is one Of the
most lrighiful consequences of intern
perance.- When the wretched victim
of unbridIed appetite, has INDUCED to
a certain extent in his accustomed slim
ulant, his Keeling brain conjures up a
multitude Of flncies, far more horrible
than ever tlntalized the widest maniac.
The concluding scene with such an in
dividual Is indiscribably fearful; Death
in all its Protcan variety, has never af-
I1ctcd me with such sensations as |
have experienced when standing by the
wretched inebriate, suffering with this
terrible disorder. Ole case to which
my mind reverts, was marked with cir
cumstance5 Of painful interest. Es-
qulre Lang was a gentleman farmer of
extensive repute. lie was a worthy
member Of the State Legislature, an
excellent neighbor, and in days when
periodical revel was rarely accounted
an evil, han Of irreproachabie NOR
al character. Few, even in his own
domestic circle, referred the bIolted
corpuIancy ofhis naturally large system
and the fiery flush ofhi5 full face, to
the Legitimate cause. His daily drains
OF Cogniac and his regularly retiring
to bed every day after dinner, were the
only practices which The most scrupu-
lous whispor5,! to his discredit But
abused appetite forees.n rs sooner or Ia
ter to pay the forfeit. Mr.. Long was
arrested in his Incorporate course by
INT oil strong apoplexy. He had been
partially recovered by the energetic APP
pIicaton Of the usual restorants and all
stimulating food and drinks, strongly
interdlctel as certain hindrancds
TO entire convalescence. His brain
now tortured with emptiness as it had
before been with plethora, was giving
birth to all the wild aud horrible mag
nations Of delirium tremens. | tieC
my horse under one Of his annie shed.
aud entered without ceremony. He
sat bolt uprightin his bed, and his coun
tenance was the image Of despair. Hi.
eyes were alternately fifully glancing
or leariuIly roIlingin their strained sock
cts, as iiin pursuit of everchanging OBJ
jects, now advancing, now retreating
and now fitting with electric rapidit,
over the field of vision. Startled at m,
entrance, he looked up and vehementl
exclaimed, "Would you rob me?'
Again, recoiling from my proferel
hand, he shrieked, "you would mur
der mel" and sprang from the oppo
site side Of bis couch with superhuma
energy.-The injudicious oppositio
OF his friends to his whim5, had phren
zied him to an alarming degree. II
utterly and obstinately refused ano
dynes, and was only restrained by fore
from leaping from the windows of hi
apartment to escape these visionary "
10 him real lormentoEs. Grasping til
clothes conyulslvely as Wereplaceu Ill
in bed, he buried himselfbenelth bal
a-dozen blankets. "Ha! there yet: b
muttered in stifled tones, and flung %
covering from himself to the floor wit
STIRLING suddenness. Soothing word
calmsd him occasionally, but lie sci
dom lost sight for a moment of tn
phantomi dancing attendance upon hi
unthroned imaginluon.- Now, terro
beams1 from every liueament Eli
era.'" he exclaimed, shrinking back
vri ar5 eIagatias bis hand for de
f.4cc-Agsa h's face exhibited ever.
u4rk Of Jo1g loathing and disgust
"SaaAs4!" said ne, "see them crawl
"See! they are on my body!' "KeeI