The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-01-29

last induced to take the sleeping potion
that my troubles ceased. This gave mt
/ twelve hours ofsound sleep, and when
awoke all the strange sights had vanished
1t was some time, though, before I was
wholly convinced that some of the sights
seen we're not real, and even now there
are things connected with those hours O.
mental torture that have not been ex'
planned entirely to my satisfaction. Thi:
is but a small part of the experience
asked for, as in those few hours l lived
like person in dream, for years. But
YOU have not time, nor have | the dispo.
sition to rehearse the matter further. II
YOU wish to ascertain any facts in relation
to treatment, inquire of DR.. Day, for he
has treated hundreds of cases of the
tremens, while I have actual knowledge
of only one."
INTERVIEW WITH THE sUPEEINTEN'
DENT.
Thanking Fred for his experience and
advice, the writer next interviewed the
superintendent concerning the disease and
treatment with the following result:
doctor, your patient seems to have
passed through severe ordeal"
eyes" he answered; "but such cases
are not unusual here"
"Did not the delirium continue longer
with him than with most others?" ven-
tured the writer.
Enthusiastically So" replied the doctor,
"but no longer than might reasonably
have been expected as his debauch had
been continuous and excessive for q
number ofmonths, and until there was
almost complete suspension of normal
functions by alcoholic poisoning"
"What is the general result of pro-
tracted period of dissipation 2"
"Great nervous prostration from the alb
sence of proper nourishment. The con-
dition ofdruukenness is one ofpoisoning,
and to undertake to describe in detail all
the phenomena of alcoholic poisoning
would far exceed the time at my COM
mand at the present. I will state, how
ever, that the action of alcohol, when
used to excess, lowers the vital forces
and depresses the temperature of the
body, and thus produces q tendency to
death. Alcohol is only in small degree
slimulant. 1t is the reverse. 1t is an
anesthetic, and its constant use, even in
moderation, will produce change in
nerve structure and abnormal mental
manifestations will be the result"
"The impression seems to prevail that
delirium tremens is q dangerous disease,
and that few survive the second attack.
Does this accord with your expe-
riencef"
"No; the approach of delirium indi-
Gates favorable prognosis. The dan
gerous stage is usually passed when the
delirium begins, and if the patient is
properly treated he will survive as many
attacks as from most diseases. There are
men doing business in this city to-day
that I have treated for delirium half a
score of times"
"What, in your opinion, is the proper
course of treatment?" asked the writer.
"That is hardly fair way of putting
the question:" replied the doctor. "No
physician can answer such inquiries in
reference to his patients, no matter what
their diseases, as there are no two tenn
peraments Just alike. The question can
only be answered in general way.
There are few facts that can be given,
one of which is, the total withdrawal of
the producing cause, and in its place
nourishing food substituted. The stom-
ach for a time will reject food, but this
need not alarm any one. Vomiting is
the result of brain poisoning, and its
reflex action on the stomach. AS soon
as healthy blood begins to circulate in
the brain the vomiting will cease. After
treating nearly 700 cases of delirium tre-
mems, I am less than ever in favor of
administering drugs. After the first
stage of this disease has passed away
(which is termed the febrile stage), then
| hydrate chloral, combined with bromide
of potash, may be given, but great care
should be observed in the presentment of
chloral. Itnever should be given, except
by the advice of skilful physician, and
be will never order it until after the
most thorough examination of the pa
tient. He will observe the action of the
heart and the nerve force which presides
| over lie action, and, if found weak, the
drugs must be carefully given and in
sufficient quantity to produce sleep. If
this is not accomplished, the patient is
| the worse for the use of chloral. Form
erly opium was considered the "sheet
anchor" in the treatment of this disease,
and twenty-five per cent of the patients
died. Now its use is seldom employed,
and we lose less than one per cent"
"Does delirious patient seem to crave
the accustomed stimulant?"
"No; when the delirious condition ap-
proaches the patient will usually volun-
tarily cease drinking. Abused nature
comes in and bids the reckless drunkard
to stop, and, although he has no will of
his own to obey, there are bounds which
he cannot pass. Hence the common er-
ror that delirium and other alarming
symptoms are superinduced by these sud-
den abandonments of the habit is the re-
verse of the truth"
Upon further inquiry it appears that
the diseases not so prevalent as in former
years. The work of elimination is uni
versal among mankind. and the weak
and worthless fall out and are destroyed
as chaf, while the strong bear up the
pillars of human progress. If this is the
case, why may we not look for continued
improvement in this direction, and in
the not far distant future may we not
hope that dipsomania will be dream Of
the past, and as rarely seen as leprosy or
any other old-time Affections.
| Nor His DARLING.-After down.
town young man had been keeping com.
pany with a girl at the north end of Third
street for several months, her father sud-
/ dnnlu nnt the idnn that q salary of 81 ner