Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-02-19
.DeIirium Tremens--A sketch.

The delirium tremens is one of the 'Inosi
frightful consequences OF ntemperance.- When |
the wretched victim of unbrded appetite has
'indulg-d TO n certain extent in his accustomed
stlmulant, his reelng brain conjures up mu- |
titude of tanCes, far more horrible than ever
tantalized the widest maniac. The conclu- |
ding scene with such an individual is indiscri-
badly fearful. Death in all its Protean variety,
has never affected me with such sensations as
| have experienced when standing by the
wrctched incbriate, suffering with this terrible
disorder. One case to which my mind reverts,
was marked with circumstances Of painful in
tcrest Esquire lang was a wealthy gentle
man farmer of extensive repute. lie was a
worthy member of the State Legislature, an
excellent ncighbor, and in days when pcriodi-
cal revel was rarely accounted AL evil, man
of irreptoachbe moral character. Few, even
in his own domestic circle, referred the b'eat-
&c corpulency of his naturally large system,
and The fiery flush of his full face, 10 the le-
and his regularly retiring TO bed every day at:
ter dinner, were the only practices which the
most scrupuous whispered to his discredlt.
But abused appetite forces us sooner or later to
pay the forfeit Mr. lang was arrested in his
Incorporate course by fit of strong apopexy.
| lie had been PARTIALLY recovered by the encr-
| getic application of the usual rcstorants and all
stimulating food and drinks, strongly in,erdict-
,d ~ ccrtn in 1ron ps tn ont irc lpScpnrp
! Ills brain now tortured with emptiness as Il
had before been with plethora, was giving birth
to all the Wild and horrible maginations of
dcllrma trcmcns. ] tied my horse under one
of his ampc sheds and entered without ccre.
mony. He sat bolt upright ir'hls bed and his
coun,cnancc was the image of despair. His
eyes were alternately fitfully giancing, or fear
fully rolling in their strained sockets, as If in
pursuit of ever changing objects, now advanc-
ing, now retreating, and now fitting with G.
lectric rapdty over the field of vision. Star
tied at my entrance, he looked up and vehe.
mendy exclaimed. Would you rob mel A.
gain, recoiing from my proffered hand, he shrck
ed, YOU would murder me" and sprang from
the opposite side of his couch with superhumar
energy The injudlcious opposition Of hi:
friends to his whims, had phrenzied hun TO al
alarming degree. He utterly and obstinately ly
refused anodyncs, and was only restrained by
force from lcaping from the windows Of his II
parimcnt to escape these visionary yet to hin
real tormenters. Grasping the clothes convul
sivcly as we replaced him in bed, he burioc
himself beneath half.a.dozen blankets. 'lla
there yet? he multcred in sttled tones, un'
flung the covering from himself TO the foo
: with startling suddenness. Soothing word
calIned him occasionally, but he seldom los
> sight for moment of the phantom's dancin!
attendance upon his unthrcned Imagination
Now, terror bcamed from every ineamen'
'Flends = he exclaimed, shrinking backwar
and elcvating his hand for deience--Again hi
face exhibited every mark Of strong loathn
aud disgust Snakes : said he, see ther
: crawl! See they are on my body" 'Kee
i them of = raising his voice with each succes
VI sve exclamation. Now his eyes rapidly trt
II verscd the circumference Of q circle which wa
u rapidly lcsscning. See they are Oh me
he exclaimed whenihis person was embrace
u within the narrowing limits. why don't yo
J. keep them of = The expression of his feature
'' his intense sgitations, his motions were a
% those of one upon whom ten thousand reptile
=" were trailing their scaly bodies.
Again, fixing his eyes upon retired corn'
II of the room, he shook with an unearthly shu
: der, as if some new horror had greeted h
10 vision. What do you see there p inquired h
anxious and distressed wiie.-'Twon
whispered Two what : said l. Two horri
HoRRID fellowsr he shuGdered 'conclusiyel
~ Keep them rS'ay . said he family, after
Ut mother halfhour of anxious silence. Our hop
- less task Of bcutng the air was resumed wi
10 'usuG success. 'Take them away" he groane
u they are conGngr threw myself into
= posture of defence. He grew calm for fc
> moments. Then, suddenly starting up,
: cienchcd his fists, raised them 10 his rig
shoulder in boxing attitude, gared fear a
10 fury from his bloodshot e.'es, huwled in agor
), 'ri!Gy CONE! THEN CONE! struck three 81
cral times with appalling energy a, the a
preaching phantoms, and fell back upon I
~ Couch-A GHAsILt UoErSE.--- Boston Record,
rn TEMrERANoE.-M Mme than 1000 perso
A have recently taken the Temperance pledge
no Sullivan county Tenpessee