The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-01-29
THE "JAMs.u
A scientiho Description Of the Deliriuns
Tremeus.


very few people outside of the medica
profession have any knowledge Of wha
constitutes true case, as tho nature O
this much. dreaded disease is such as 1
necessitate an immediate removal 30 som
private or public institution. This re
moval Ia necessary for two reason: First
to insure that absolute control that coul,
not he obtained IN private residence
and second, to guard the patient from an,
attempt to commit suicide. This seclu
sion aud the fact that relatives AM
friends use Their utmost endeavors TO keel
the matter concealed prevent the cor
rection of these errors. The drama o
drink" recently performed at the Bos
ton Theatre, and which depicted th'
evils of intemperance, was true to life il
most points, but was sadly deficient il
one of its prominent features. However
as the public in general did no5 know
the difference between M actual and {
supposed case of the tremens, it matter
ed but little. Mr. Keeue did himseI
credit throughout, with the exception O
his impersonation of q delirious inebIiatt
and In the scene at the death. In thil
the actor seemed to have little or no con
cepticH of the different stages of the dis
ease, aud his sravings az contortions while
in the death struggle had but slight re-
eembiance to an actual death from this
cause. One popular error consists in
supPosing that delirium is produced by 9
sudden abandoning or withdrawal of the
accustomed supply of stimulants. Such
is not the case. When the blood and
nervous system become impregnated with
alcoholic poison to certain degree, ther
a delirious condition will follow, whether
the person continues to drink or not
Usually, when this etate approaches, the
individual will, of his own accord, abandon
the use Of intoxicants. again, temper.
ance lecturers frequently describe the
death of person from this disease, and
represents him as parting into eternity
Screaming for rum" Actual experience
with such cases contradicts their state
ments, it having been found that delir.
ious patients cannot be induced to par.
take OF liquor. and that they will often
refuse medicine until assured that it con.
tains no alcoholic stimulant. In forme,
times it was thought necessary to control
patients by force, and In institutions
they were strapped down In such man.
ner as to prevent the use of their limbs
and kept sc until the deiirium subsided,
the time usually being from two to four
days. But science having revealed bet
ter method of treatment, the strappiug
process is discontinued and the delirium
is subdued in as many hours. 1t is fact
not generally known that after recovery
clear and distinct recollection of every
word uttered in the presence of the pa.
tient is 30 impressed upon his memory
that he is able to repeat them. He will
also remember every object that he saw
in imagination, and give description oi
it. Through the kindness of DR.. Day,
superintendent of the Washingtonian
Home, Al Walthams street, the writer had
an opportunity of Observing q former &C
quaintance who was suffering from a sc.
we're attack of tremens, and after recovery
had an interview with the individual
gaining from him partial description OF
his feelings, hallucinations and visions, OF
optical illusions, which were substantial.
ly as follows:
Fred" asked the writer, "have you
sHy objection to relating your experience
for the past few days 2"
"No," he replied; "but then to give
you complete description of all have
seen and heard during the short time you
mention would require considerable time
and. # written, would make large vol.
ume. However, will give you some Of
my .nnst proiiiuent impressions while
deGrious. CATER period Sof excessive
indulgence in intoxicants l exhibited
symptoms Of what is commonly called
the 'Iim-Jams.' Do you know the differ.
ence between that condition and the tre.
mens?" ho inquired, and on being an.
swered in the negative he s.id: "Well, tc
explain it &c :;a shortest manner. II ::
.the diHaEAcce between Imagination .ad
reality. Ia ti tiie fH0Fmer strange sights are
seen and familiar voices arc heard, vet 6
person knows that they exist only in i'm
agination. But in the latter they seem
\ reality, and no amount of argument
can convince one to the contrary. Again
in the latter there ia no physical suffer.
ing, no pain, and the patient persists ir
believing himself to be perfectly well
It was mostly to crafty my friends that
l consented. 70 become o patient of DR.
Day. applied at the LONE for admit
tance, was pleasantly received, and, ir
conversation with the doctor, explained
my SITUATION, and also endeavored tc
assure him that I was OF. sound mind ant
in good physical condition. He did no
dispute me, but, looking ut me steadily
for a moment, noticed o twinkling il
his eye that 70 me implied doubt of my
statement being correct. He assigned
me room in the hospital department o
the institution, and here wae wher
my real troubles commenced. MY sens,
of hearing seemed to be stimulated to al
unnatura, degree, it being nothing diff
cult to hear persona conversing who wer,
miles Gistant-in Imagination. of cours,
-and, what was more aggravating, thei
whole conversation consisted of abus
of vilest nature. Others would Whispe
in my ear and accuse me Of the most afro
cious and horrible crimes imaginable
The walls of the room seemed TO be dec
GRATED with pictures, monstrosities O
: leTv conceivable ahnna,s n.i...nlr ..f Al
kinds and in all positions, and some Q
them ready to spring upon and deyour me
These pictures would change from tim
to time, like the dissolying views of
stereorticon, but seldom was there any
thiBF pleasant exhibited. I knew itwa
al Imagination, although / could plainl-
hear and see the things mentioned. an,
that knowledge enabled me to contro
myself. That self.control left me as tn
disease progressed, and soon eight an,
sound were to me actual realities. M,
previous art gallery was changed to livini
and moving beings more revolving thai
the former representations, and savag
beasts more numerous than the collectiol
of Noah were continually threatening Il
annihilate me. Officers Of the law wer
after me for some crime that had beel
accused of, and his satanic majesty. &c