The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-05-14

seeking SOl1Ce In the cup seldom make
moro than two visits to the hospital.
They are physically unable to stand
the strain.
One of the attendants said to the re-
porter: I'VE have many more delir-
ium tremen patients than people
suppose. Some are very desperate
cases. One night last fall a young man
of perfect physical development, per-
feet giant of strength and manly vigor,
was brought in. He was afraid of
everything, and yet ready to fight for
his life. He thought he was pursued
by Chinaman. AS we reached the
ward he gave shrek and sprang into
the hallway, his bloodshot eyes glaring
wildly about him with mingled fear
and defiance. We had a desperate
struggle with him. His .supcrhuman
strength was shown, and he handled
us for time like children. Finally
his strength gave out and he was
placed on a cot, but soon after was up
again and ready for fight. When we
succeeded in overpowering him again
he was strapped down."
''How is this done?''
1.-The patient is held on his back, a
leather strap, wide one, is placed
around his arms and legs, and made
fast to the iron cot. A sheet is then
passed over his breast, and made fast
in the same manner. In severe cases
another sheet is placed over his knees,
while the feet are made fast to the
footboard of the cot. It is then impos-
sible for him to stir. Antidotcs are
given, and the patient falls asleep. It
requires several days and careful nurs-
ing to bring them safely through
Perhaps at Frcedman's hospital as
many dclirium tremen patients are
treated as in any of the other hospitals
of the city, and it is the boast of this
institution that but one has died, and
he was near the grave when admitted.
DR.. Shadd says when there is nowhere
else to send a patient he is fred into
Freedman's.
Speaking of this class of patients, the
doctor said: Our treatment is very
simple. We sponge the patient eff,
take away his clothes, put him in bed,
and give him light diet, milk, broths,
etc. We do not allow stimulants.
When he becomes delirious we order a
bromide mixture. If he be young
we sometimes order choral hydrate at
bedtime, but never use it in cases
where the patient is old or an inveter-
! ate drinkcr. We keep the bowels open
by giving mild op:ates No mcchani-
cal restraint is needed in mild cases.
But with the majority of our cases,
where the patient has suffered with
the horrors of dclirium tremens several
times before, our treatment is little
different. Mechanical restraint must
then be used. Give bromide mixture
every four hours and alternate with it
a mixture containing tr. 1nuc. vo,n.
Special attention is paid to diet: milk,
broths. etc, must be given at frequent
! intervals.
TO produce sleep we often use NOR
plline hypodcr,nically at bedtime, so
that the patient can sleep several hours.
Sleep, rest and diet are important
| factors in the treatment of all serious
cases of alcoholism.
"Only in cases of exhaustion do we
give whisky. Never taper patient off
with small doses of liquor Tr. digi-
tails may be given in small doses as a
heart tonic. AS to the propriety of hay
| ing the room padded, ETC., believe that
| very little furniture is needed; only a
) strong, low cot or bed to which you can
restrain the patient by tying him with
! a sheet across his; chest and with
| bandagcs around his wrists and ankles
! thus keeping him in a horizontal posi-
F: ton, which is of the greatest impor-
; lance when you have serious case of
delirium tremens in an old, inveterat,
| drinker with a weak heart and suffer-
ing from chronic gastritis. Where the
room is padded the patient walks
! around falling hither and thither, striv-
ing to get out and often injured by be-
ing held by friends or attendants. We
have seen several cases where patients
came near dying every time they at
tempted to get out of bed.
Zone of the worst cases I now recall
was that of man who believed that he
had killed his wife and child and
thrown them into a sewer trap He
was a powerful man, had arms like
rolls of steel, and we were hours get
ting him tied. He was calling all the
time for his wife and child, and said he
| could see lakes of fire into which he
was to he thrown. He recovered and
reformed, and is now good citizen.''
There being no regular hospital in
the city for the treatment of mania a
potu patients, they are treated in any
hospital where they happen to be sent.
Washington Post.
CONSCIENCE-KlLLING DRINK.