Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-02
DELIRIUM TREMENS TREATED BY INHALA.
TON OF ETHER.
mr. }. D. 'urHAM, NJ. n, boston.

Communicated for the Boston Medicqland Surgical Journal
William Perry, rhman forty EIGHT years OF age is of
sangune temperament strong and robust Frame and gen.
orally enjoyed firm health He is an hoser by occupation
and has been of Incorporate habits for many years
On Monday July 18th, committed the House of Cor
ecton having for several days previously been drinking very
freely according to his statement On the same day he
presented himself the hospital out patient for chronic
ulcer the leg At that time he showed indications of
derium tremens with the exception Of slight mani
ested particularly about the hands Towards evening grew
wild and uneasy remors Increased and became general
Slept but little during the night and found next morn
ing state of high excitement with tongue thckly coat
ed, pupils daed, lips tremuous muscles universally agi
aed pacing his CELL talking ncessantly and ravng inco.
herently.
During the following twenty hours the patient showed
all the usual symptoms of delrum tremens in marked de
gree He slept none but walked the floor without interms
sion, talked dsconnecedy and, is usual in like cases.
busted himself in the performance OF imaginary tasks He
constantly pressing against the walls of his CELL or endea
vong with the ncied assistance of horses remove the
iron door. Meanwhile if questioned he would answer TO
the best OF his ability, and obey directions with aacrty for
the moment but Immediately eapsed into his previous
of derum This times assumed violent FORM that it
deemed necessary take away his bed and all other
able articles within his each and keep attendants by him day
and night to protect him from Injury.
For the succeeding weight hours this state Of things
continued with but little variation, all the grave symptoms
crcasing in severity.
The usual treatment having faIed and large and repeated
doses OF mopha proving utterly poweress produce sleep,
the patient was found Friday morning still in of
wakeuness and high delrum but much exhausted
make matter Of the highest induce sleep imme
daiey In this condition il thought expedient last
resort to make a Of ethereal inhalation and the ether
accordingly administered by the sponge.
The patient very refractory and required to be held by
assistants in the while struggling ravng and cursing
Aer nhalng the vapo for the space Of twelve
he appeared quiet and thought he fully under the ethe
real influence but upon the removal Of the sponge he spang
w.
The process repeated and continued for ten minutes
MORE at the end Of which time the patient was brought fairly
under the desired influence and fell asleep From this state
of artificial sleep he passed, ,0o ,cang into quiet,
deep, and untroubed slumber which continued ho
termission, for -four and half hours.
He was seen several times during the continuance Of this
Sleep and within few minutes after he awoke He then
appeared perfectly RATIONAL called for cold water and asked
have his leg dressed (he had bruised badly during the deli
rum In the course OF half hour he fell again Gas
aniicpated) into quiet sleep which continued with few in
termissions, during the afternoon and night
This morning Saturday he appears perfectly rational and
WE'LL though weak has recollection Of any thing that has
happened from nghi Monday to the time Of his first
waking on the Friday afternoon.
Quey-Would the ether have brought about the
suit in earlier stage Of the disease before exhaustion
peryened If not would repetition of the same have been
more cliectual