Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-08
Temporary Insanity from Alcohol.
To the Editor of TIE EVENING STAR.


To the Editor of TIE EVENING Star.
The first effect of alcohol is on the brain, and
it is well ascertaIned fact that some individ-
uals become, for the time, absolutely crazy
after every excess Of drinking. They are with
out reason and are unconscious of what they
say or do. All the symptoms of the first stage
of Inflammation of the brain are present, and
the power to control either words or acts is
absent There is q painful and hot head, flushed
face. and quick full and hard pulse The
temper is irascible and exceedingly violent,
and the drunkard of this predisposition defies
the restraint Of those about him. He some
times attacks with violence those who come in
his way, and manifests great ferocty against
any one who attempts to control him. He
meditates no injury to himself. but recklessly
PUSHES upon dangers that often result In his
destruction. He Is widely bent upon the injury
of those whom he fancies are opposing him, and
his family have frequently to flee terrified from
his presence for safety. So determined is his
propensity to destroy that he breaks to pieces
tha plate. furniture and other objects about him,
and, while drinking, will sometimes bite q
piece from the liquor glass and crush it be-
tween his teeth like one chewing ice. He soon
breaks away from all restraint, and, getting
into the street, his language is wild, profane
and bosterOus, and, In obedience to his
Irresistible desire to destroy, he breaks windows
upon whom his maddened gaze fixes itself
Such are the positive symptoms which are
manifested by some individuals every time they
get drunk, and are the signs of an unmistake-
able case Of temporary insanity from alcohol
The drunkard in this condition of Inflammation
OF the brain from alcohol is the individual who
answers at the police court to the charge of
''dfuuk and disorderly," beats his wife, stabs
and shoots men. murders his children and pro-
duces three-fourths not only Of the violations Of
municipal law, but three-fourths of the cases
That are tried at the criminal court.
DELIRIUM TREMENs.
The excessive drinking of alcoholic liquors is
liable to produce another form of insanity, but
differs from the temporary insanity from alcohol
in the particular that it does not occur at the
beginning Of spree, but at the end Of it, andis
known as deairium tenaens or mania potu
That is, delirium with trembling, and madn ess
from drinking. It is characterized by tremu-
lous motion OF the limbs, and is caused by an
exhaustion of the mental powers by over ex-
element of the brain from continual excessive
drinking. 1t ia more q condition of wildness
than OF fury. and rarely presents the ferocity Of
temporary insanity from alcohol. The brain is
not always intensely infiamed, but rather ex-
hausted and changed in its functions. There is
no unusual heat about the head. and the face is
pale and perspiring. The skin is moist and cool.
and the pulse Is small, frequent and weak
Chilly sensations pass over the body, and the
thoughts are filed with an awful dread of In
jury, and . terrible apprehension that danger is
immediate or impending. All the agonizing In
fuence OF an irrepresSible fear is present and
fright expresses itself in every feature. The
eyes are red and wild, and the limbo are kept
in constant unsteadiness by tremulous
motions. The drnnkard can neither sit
nor lie quietly, but IL In . constant
furore Of excitement He has q never-ceasinr
dread that he Is about to be destroyed BY pow
erf0l and mOnstrous beings that assume every
shape, color and size, and adopt every position
and device to destroy him. Demons Of the most
hldeous forms haunt and taunt hisvision. Snakes
hiss and dart their forked tongues towards him,
and reptiles crawl all over him. He wildly
PUSHES about to escape them, but his efforts %
eiude them are vain. They como nearer to
worry him the more, ana he stxikes and clutches
different parta at his body - KIN o. cstch them
when quiet for the moment, 10 actively en-
9a80 his handt b drawing WORMS ftun III
nnGeEss ead - plckin& fot6 ond mlee hom hls
limb g g inpo1f6le H. HIN - 6t69w and
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