The Wilmingtonian., 1885-07-18

Many of the consequences of the daily
increasing intemperauce of all classes aud of
both sexes are as well recognized in modern
medical practice as others are temperance
platforms, or in the proceedings of our
criminal tribunals. Largely, however, as it
has been discussed from all these different
points of view, this many-sided topic still
unfortunately remains unexhausted; and
hence venture to submit few remarks on
some recent developments of alcohol
ism which have lately come into
frequent observation in the children's
hospital The evils, moral and physical,
resulting fiom the abuse of alcohol were
never so prevalent as at the present time,
and the latter have become almost as
traceabe in the disease of youth as in those
of adult existence.
Amongst the results of the killing pace
at which the race Of life is now so generally
run from its start to its finish, one of the
most serious is the fact that the period of
childhood has, in many intances, become 50
abridged by the necessity of entering on the
struggle for existence before the moral,
mental, or physical powers are sufficiently
developed that a premature breakdown in
any of these is no longer exceptional. This
is exempliiied in one of its phases by the
painful exhibitions of Juvenile alcoholism
now daily witnessed, more especially
amongst those neglected little street arabs
who are forced into the Ghoroughfares of
every great city, there to eke out living
as best they may, and the pathological
consequences of whose inherited or acquired
alcoholic proclivities are brought under
almost continual observation in our hospi-
tails.
The history of some cases of this kind,
one of which have elsewhere referred to,
will probably best illustrate the subject of
the present communication.
j. L., aged eight was admitted into st,
Joseph's Children's Hospital February Sth
suffering from delirium tremens. His mother
was an habitual inebriate, and during
CESSATION had been repeatedly drunk. HIS
father, sober man occupying respectable
position, as soon as possible sent this child
to be reared in the country, away from her
example. Returning home when nearly six
years ofage, the propensity fol alcohol soon,
however, manifested itself; for discover
ing bottle of whiskey secreted by his
mother, he helped himself and became
stupidly drunk. From this time, despite
his fathers efforts to preveut it, he tipped
almost continually for nearly two years A
few days before being brought to the hos
pital, he abstracted bottle Of port wine
from their lodging house keeper, and this
he finished all to glass or so at one sitting
After this last bout he fell into drunken
coma in which he nearly died. On being
aroused therefrom by active treatment, he
he was found delirious and after II short
time was brought to the hospital
His condition was than that of well-mark-
ed delirium p0tu with great vital prostra-
tom. On being spoken to, however gently
he shook like an aspen leaf from head TO
foot, and tried to hide himself under the
bed-clothes. At the same time he under
stood perfectly whatever was said to him,
and manifested an absurd over-anxiety to
comply infinitely with every direction. He
glanced furtively around the ward, COM
planned of imaginary annoyauces, aud ex-
hibited an abject terror of the other children
in the ward, clinging nervously to the sister
in charge, to prevent her leaving him alone
with them for moment
His eyes were gistening and staring, pupils
dilated. skin cool and clammy, tongue m oist
and coated, abdomen hard, liver tumefied,
temperature subnormal, pulse 140, weak
and somewhat irregular; general aspect
emaeated and cachectic. He was ordered
beef-tea with little capsicgm, in small
quantities and aJ short intervals, milk and
soda water to relieve thirst, and mixture
with tincture Of digitalis, bromide OF
potassium, aud aromatic spirits of ammonia,
i'll suitable doses. On the following day he
was slightly better, having had some sleep
during the the night. For the next few
day he continued to improve, all the symp-
toms slowly subsiding, and at the end of a
week the deirium and tremor had nearly
disappeared, although he still continued
extremely, restless, and debiltated.
Cn the 10Th, crop of boils showed them,
selves first on the face and neck, and thence
extended gradually over the whole body
These furunculi did not entirely disappear
for nearly month. During this time he
remained as weak in mental as in bodily
health.
At last, however the influence of various
tonics such as Fellows syrup of the nypo.
phosphites which we prescribe largely in the
Children's Hospital in small doses, Parrish s
syrup, and all the various other remedies ol
the same class which the ingenuity of my
colleagues could suggest, and which were
successfully administered together Will
very generous dietary, daily baths and
above ALL free air and sunlight in the
grounds of the institution, he began tC
recover again. Aud it was then observed
that pari passu with the regainment of hil
physical strength his mental condition alsC
obviously improved so that by the middle
of April lie was discharged convalescent
from the hospital. | may add that he was
shrotly afterwards brough before one of oul
Divisional Magistrates, by whom he was
sent to Rerormatory School where he is
now goirg on satisfactorily, and with every
prospect of turning out well.
CASE II.-In an adjoining bed to The
patient just referred to, we had at the SAINT
time another Juvenile victim o
alcoholism. NJ. NJ, a newsboy, aged eight
was admitted December Goth, suffering from
alcoholic blood poisoning, marasmus anG
eczema. Before admission this boy haC