Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-05-21
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
AMONG THE unFoRTUNATEs.
system of Hospital Treatment y '"'
tins of Acute Alcoholism.

lima a
"Give me some whisky! For doas
sake. whisky
In one of the wards OF Providence iioF
pital this plaintive cry rang OUT ai's
a.. lights had been lowered andoseini
darkness prevailed 1t came from ths
,yard reserved for mania potu pa
tients. Noiselessly there giided 70 INC
cot a Young woman. the emDoolinen'
~ goodness. righteousness and nope
and Olancing down into the via,
hunted face of the man who had drained
he Intoxicating cup to its bitter dregs'
she smoothed back the unkempe nair
and cooled his burning brow. Inc
crazed patient soon quleted' ana sieep
apain came to him.
This was not the first time the young
man had been patient in the ward
He was the son of wealthy physician
and n yyretched victim of the alcohol
habit There are many such cases, ana
the sisters at the hospital know what
treatment to pursue after patient has
haan there once. Notwo cases develop
exactly alike. The full-blooded, mus
cular men fight their imaginary battles
and seldom die: but the delicate men
who have oyertaxed their brains before
seeking solace in the cup seldom make
more than two visits to the hospital.
They are physically unable to stand
the strain.
One Of the attendants said to the re-
norter: I'VE have many more delir-
ium tremen patients than people
sunpose. Some are very desperate
cases. One night last fall young man
of perfect physical development per-
feet giant of strength and manly vigor,
was brought in. lie 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 superhuman
strength was shown, and he handled
rs for a 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, a 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. 1t is then impos-
sible for him to stir. Antidotes are
given. and the patient falls asleep II
requires several days and careful nurs-
: ing to bring them safely through"
Perhaps at Freedman's hospital a;
many delirium 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. anC
he was near the grave when admitted
DIR. Shadd says when there is nowher'
else to send patient he is fred int
Freedmans.
Speaking of this class of patients, tn
doctor said: 'Our treatment IS yer,
simple. We sponge the patient of
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
bromide mixture. If he be younl
we sometimes order choral hydrate a
bedtime. but never use it in case
where the patient is old or an inyeter
ate drinker We keep the bowels ope
by giving mild opiates. No mechani
cal restraint is needed in mild cases
But with the majority of our cases
where the patient has suffered wit
the horrors of delirium tremens .severa
times before, our treatment is littl
different. Mechanical restraint mus
then be used. Give bromide mixtur
every four hours and alternate with
a mixture containing tr. niue Won
Special attention is paid TO diet: mill
broths. etc, must be given at frequer
intervals.
ITO produce sleep we often use mol
phine hypodermically at bedtime. $
that the patient can sleep several hour
Sleep, rest and diet are importar
| factors in the treatment of all serior
cases of alcoholism.
"Only in cases of exhaustion do W
give whisky. Never taper patient o
with small doses of liquor. Tr. dig
tails may be given in small doses as
: heart tonic. As to the propriety of ha'
| ing the room padded, etc, l believe thu
very little furniture is needed; only
strong. low cot or bed to which you ca
Il restrain the patient by tying him wit
sheet across his chest and wit
bandages around his wrists and ankle
thus keeping him in a horizontal pos
Q. ton. which is of the greatest impo
= lance when you have a serious case I
delirium tremens in an old, inveterai
n drinSer with a weak heart and SUITE
II ing from chronic gastritis. Where Il
n room is padded the patient wall
around falling hither and thither, stri
ing to get out and often injured by b
n ing held by friends or attendants. v
II have seen several eases where patieu