The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-03-01
A Curious Thing i'm s'Blnn.Banns''

During the slate rnpleasantness,0 y in
many sections occupied by the C6nfed-
erates,. it was impossible. for thirsty
spirits to obtain any other preparation
Of the "Oh, be-jOyfuf" than Louisiana
rum; even this death dealing compound
was sold at ruineusly high prices. ~.
In one OF the interior towns Of our
State, a young army surgeon had been
stationed or post duty. Sad to say, he
was not a temperance man. On the
contrary, he Wrestled constantly and
diligently. with rum until it "threw
him > and he had a beautiful case Of
"jim-jams."
1t may not be known that, in this ex-
traoltlinary disease, it is rare that diff
terent, patients are tOrmented bT the
same haltncinatiOns, it generally Deing
the case that every sufferer has his own
individual Ntelsageyie, o.
The imaginary horror of our young
surgical friend was a hideOus serpent, of
enormous size, whose tail end was lost in
the dim distance, andwhose arched neck
bore a name as long and as flowing as
that OF the most orthodox Circus
horse.
From time to time O1tr unhappy friend
would see this frightfuI monster unfold
his great coils, and advance, with name
erect and cleaning eyes, toward the
bed on which he lay. Atevery suc1l.vis-
ltat10n he would spring up with a howl,
andFrlsh frantically from corner to cor
ner-frequently attempting to throw
himself from the window.
AS this was his first attack the violent
symptoms of thefifst stage soon passed
away, and he had just subsidized into q
condition OF nervous DrOstratiOn when
the physician, who had been summoned,
entered the rOen,, Seating himself be-
side the trembling sufferer, the. sympa-
thetic and somewhat venerable doctor
enquired:
"What is the nature of your illness,
my young friend and c0UTere ~
" I have been drinking to excess, doc
tor" he replied; "and fear that I am
now suffering from de1ilitlm tremens.' .
" Have you been visited by any hallU-
ciRatiOn?" asked the doctor.
ooh, yes ~ gasped the patient, in re-
ply, "A fIightful snake of tremendous
size, with a."
"StOpw exclaimed the doctor; and
turning to the sick mans friends, who
had remained in the room and said:
"GentlBnen, perceive that my pa
tient, is very nervous. Will you have
the kindness to withdraw R0r o few
1ninutes?"
After a long pause, having looked
furtiVely around, to satisfy himself that
he was alone with his patient, he asked
in a low tone:
"What popularity in that snake were
you about to mentiOn?"
"a heavy name, DOCTOR" answered
the invalid-"a name like that Of a
horse"
"Great Heavensw cried the doctor,
buTying his face in his hands.
There was silence for many minutes,
and the good physician seemed lost in
meditation. ArOusing himself at last,
he said:
MY young friend, l have made a
great medical discovery, which / com
municate to yOW in confidence. have
just recovered from an attack similar to
yours, which passed off on. my friends
as one OF meningitis. The coincidence
of your ease confirms me i'm an opinion
that was, already, half formed 1t is
this: Al snakes beG0tteR. Of Louisiana
rum, haze names :" The visit was
ended.
Query-Do these two facts establish a
rule?
Science awaits the answer, which can
only come from those who have been
there themselves.-[N. O. Times