Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-03-10

DELiRIUM TREMENs.--few who have
read in The newspapers the verdic, OF the
coroners inquest upon the body oil
some unfortunate son or daughter oI
intemperance, " died OF deIirum lr..
MEMS" know ausht Of the dreadful, the
hellish nalady described by these sig
niicant words. If ones reason remains
unclouded, he may bear extreme pain
withou; hinching; he may sustain with
ioriitude the bereavement by death, OF
| those who are dear TO him as 10 his own
existence; he may be stepped TO The ips
| in poverty, and have TO suffer the con-
,umely OF the world: still, if his mind
retain its sanity and fortitude, he will
recover his serenity and composure
But in the complaint called delirium
l tremens. there is such blending Of I he
Nnnearthly with the pains Of life, that a
hovice, in the hands of those as ipno-
kant as himself. has very small chance
Of recovering. Dealh is obnoxious in
most OF its forms, but in delirium tre-
mems. ii is horrible and appalling.
Delirium tremens usually attacks
those who have been engaged in a short
course OF reckless dissi patton. and have
been suddenly Obliged TO discontinue
the stimulants to which they had accus-
toned themselves. without an opportu-
nifty Of "tapering off, as the phra se
goes, or who are so blinded and lost in
The maze into which they have plunged
themselves, as TO continue drinking
when the system is unable to support
the unnatural exci,emen, TO which i,
has been subject.
The first symptoms generally consist
Of extreme nervousness and dlssatisiac-
,ion-and a horror Of some DIRE eadful
i'm pending evil, a dread Of having COM
mit,ed some hideo"s crime sgains. ones
friends. or society at large. The VIC
tim feels wretched in the ext.eme until
he has partaksn OF a remedy Of "a hair
os the dog ,ha, Bit him." suggested by
some old hand" few hairs Judi
ciously taken at intervals, might effect
a cure But. unfortunately, the su ulferer,
finding immediate temporary relief, con-
,inues to indulge until all reason is
overturned. while an indestructible
wake fulness rem,ins. Night after mis- ht
The victim tries 10 sleep. but finds it
mpossible He is like the thirsty soul
OF the mythology, whose lips the water
touched. while he could not drink. The
victim feels sleepy, and tries in vain to
sleep. but the brain is in too great a
state Of excitement to permi, repose.
Unless a strong opiate be taken, and
1T is frequently dangerous TO take one
this state Of wnketulness continues for
three or fonr days. until the mind and
body are completely exhausted. Then
follows second stage Of the disease in
which no allusion in nature can be
more horrible. The victim falls into a
kind Of slumber surrounded by gro-
tesque and monstrous animals, rho Ia II
over and around him. aud eiideavor to
crush aud devour him. Ii he awake af
frightsd. the animals disappear. and are
succeeded by inhuMan figures and coun.
tenances grinning aud mocking at the
unfortunate iAebriate. Ii he now, in
his despair, tries to kesp awake. the fig
ures become voices suggesting to him
all manner Of blasphemy. aud urging
him on TO sell destruction. Such is the
horror Of these. that he again has re-
course to sleep. to shu. out his .ormen>
tors. Alas tresh troubles await him
Thousands Of iends in shapes diversi
ied. try 20 teui him in pieces. or he is
in the mids, Of ponderous machinery,
the Irregular movements OF which seem
certain Of crushing him TO death.