Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-04-21
Ernm the Boston Recorder.
lELIaIUM TRETTEEs.
A SKETCH.

4 A SKETCH.
The .lelirium tremens is one Of the
NEST frightful consequences of intempe-
france. When the wretched victim OF
unbrid'ed appetite, has INDUCED to Ger
s Tain extent in his accustomed stimulant,
1hisreeling brain conjures up a multitude
.iof faneies, far more horrible than ever
] tantalised tie widest maniac. The con-
GLIDING scene with such an individual IS
indescribably fearful. Death in all It's
porteanvariety has never affected me
with such sensation as have experiene.
ed when standing by the wretched me-
f5riate, suffering with this truly terrible
| disorder. One case to which my mind
reverfs. YVES marked with circumstances
Of painful interest. Esquire Lang was
a wealthy gentleman farmer Of extensive
repGte. He was worthy member os
the State Legislature, an excellent neigh
boz, and in days when periodical revei
was rarely accounted an evil, man OF
irreproachable moral character. Few,
even IN his own domestic circle, referred
the bloaied corpulency of his naturally
/ large system and the fiery flush ofhss full
face, to the legitimate cause. His daily
drains Of Cngniac and his regularly reti-
ring to bed every day after dinner, were
the only practices WHICH the most scru-
pulous whispered to his diseredt But
abused appetite forces us sooner to pay
the forfeit. Mr.. Lang was arrested in
his Incorporate course by fit of strong
appoplexv. He had BEEN partially recoy
cred by the energetic application Of the
usual restorants and all stimulating food
and drinks, strongly interdicted as GER
tain hindraRces to entire convalescence.
| His BRAIN now tortured with emptiness
as it had heretofore been with plethora,
was gisipg birth to all the horrid imagina
| tions Of delifium treInens. | tied my
horse under one of his ample sheds AMI
entered without ceremony. He sat bolt
upright in his bed, and his countenance
was the image Of despair. His eyes were
alternately fitfully glaneing. or fearfuliy
rolling in their strained sockets, as if in
pursuit Of ever changing objects, now ad-
/ vancing and retreatlng, and now Hitting
with electric rapidity over tie field OF
vision. Startled at my entrance. he
/ lookedsup and vehementIy exclaimed
f Would you rob me!' Again, recoiling
from my proffered hand, he shrieked.
you would murder me!' and sprang
from the opposite side of his couch wits
supelhuman energy. The injudieious
opposition of his friends to his whims,
had frenzied him TO an alarming degree.
fl utterly and obstinately refused ano-
dynes. and was only restrained by force
from Ieaping from the windows of his a.
partment TO escape these visionary yet to
him real tormentors. Grasping the
clothes convulsively as we placed him IN
bed, he buried himself beneath half a do
zen blankets. Ha. there yet?' he NUT
! tered in stifed tones, and flung the COW
ering from him to the floor with startling
suddennes. Soothing words Gained hlm
occasionally, but he seldom lost sight
for moment of the phantolns dancing
attendance upon his unthroned magma
ton. Now terror beamed from every
Iineament. Fiends!' he exclaimed,
shrinking backward and elevating his
hand for defence. Again his face e.hib
tied every mark Of strong loatlling and
disgust. Snakes.' said he, see them
crawl See! they are on my body
Keep them Oft Raising his voice with
each suct essive exclamation. Now his
eyes rapidly traversed the circumference
Of circle which was rapidly lessening
- See! they are on me ? he exclaimed,
/ when his person was embraced withla
the narrowing limits. why don't yoa
keep them OFF, The expression of his
features, his intense agitation, his mo-
tons were all those If one upon whom
ten thousand reptiles were trailing then
scaly bodies.
Again. fixing his eyes upon retired
lcarner Of the room, he shook with an un-
earthly shuader, as if some new horror
had greeted his vision. What do you
see there?' inquired his anxious and dis
tressed wife. Two he Whispered
Two what ? said |. s'rwo horrid. hor-
rid fellows!' He shuddered convulsixer
". Keep them away he said family,
after an, Their hall hour of anxious silence.
Our hopeless task Of beating the AR was
resumed with usual success. Take
then away..' he groaned, sthey are COM
ing = | threw myself into posture Of
defence. lie grew catm few moments
Then, suddenly starting up. he clenched
his fists, raised them to his shoulder IN
boxing attitude, glared fear and fury.
from his Diood- shot ewes, howlefl 10 agony,
.they comef trey com ? struck three fines
with appalling energy a, the approaching
phantoms, and fell back upon his couch
CHASTITY corpse