The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1885-08-20

realities for time after awaking. These
and other symptoms may cause the
patient to stop his drink, but too late to
prevent its effects. In other cases,
quite as numerous, the premonitory
symptoms are less regarded, and the
full development of the disease comes
on in the midst of gross indulgence in
drink; but the phenomena il either
case are similar. The face now be-
comes paler. the surface is ccvere with
a profuse sweat, there is trembling in
every muscle. the patient looks wildly
about him. seeing in his decisions fright
full objects in every quarter; and
though his pulse is weak and
fluttering and his whole appear
ance indicates great debility, he still
moves about restlcssly, and often
actively, and he frequently exerts him
self violently to escape from imaginary
enemies. His whole mental functions
are perverted even more than his bodily
ones The most characteristic mental
condition is fear. which is always
present. His ever-present hallucina-
tions, or morbid imaginings of sight,
sound and feeling are of frightful
character. He thinks he is pursued by
"a man with hot poker" that "snakes
are in his boots" that disgusting bugs
are crawling over him, that great bats
are Tapping their skinny wings in his
face, that vampires are sucking his
blood, or that demons are about to
seize him; and he cries out and strug-
giles in mortal agony. He may make
fatal leap from high window, or,
escaping from his room, may run half
naked through the streets. No condi-
ton of horrors or mental suffering can
exceed this state. The ancient ideas of
| Gorgons and Furies must have been de-
rived from experiencing or witnessing
this disease, which occasionally Oc-
Cured among the wine-bibbers Of the
time.
In this disease. left to itself, sleep
and rest are banished, and death by ex-
haustion is likely to occur in from a
few days to week. Many cases, how
ever, under proper management, recov-
er from first, and some from a second
or third, attack. 1t would seem from
such a warning that the first attack
would be the last-that the cause would
be avoided. But the desire to return to
drinking is so great the force Of
habit so strong, the self-con-
troll through brain impairment so
feeble, that indulgence again &C.
ours, and subsequent attacks gener-
ally follow With each recurrence Of
the disease the chances of recovery d.
minish, until death closes the earthly
scene. Subsequent attacks of this par
ticular disease may not occur, death
following from other forms of alcohol.
ism, or from complications of other dis
eases; but when the brain is SO far i'm
paired as to produce delirium tremens
permanent reform is almost hopeless
and the victim is almost sure to die {
drunkard.
Death to our natural instincts is {
fearful thing, come in what form it may
} fearful when amid friends and family
and loving care; made less appalling
by affection earned by years of self-con
troll, of duty done, of virtue, kindness
and love. 1t is terror even when lif,
passes away with these surroundings
in resignation and hope, and ceases q
gently as music from slumbering harp
string. What then must be this dreat
J event to him, who drives from his death
chamber, or perhaps his gloomy cell
by his raving violence or his profan
mutterings, his family and kin, wit
: may have but the tattered remnants o
abused affection, while he puffs out hi
last foul breath, token of the corrup
ton within, and nothing remains bu
an inheritance of painful memories
and possibly of propensities which ma
lead his offspring to repeat his career
= Can it be possible that an article
which so often produces the effects upol
the brain and nervous system whicl
. have been sketched in mere outline, ia
Is beverage, even necessary, usefu
or safe; or indeed entirely innocent
habitually used in any quantity, how
, ever moderator