The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-06-17
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
DRINK DELIRIUM.
A Graphic Description by Ono Who Has
Had the Disease.

A Graphic Description by Ono Who Has
Had the Disease.
There are many popular errors con-
corning the disease called delirium
tremens, and comparatively little
actual knowledge of its direct cause,
or the proper method Of its treatment.
A crazy drunk" mania-a-potu, COM
monty called 'jim jams" or the
horrors" and delirium tremens, by
the public in general, are supposed to
be one and the same disease, when in
fact they bear but slight resemblance.
Even the medical fraternity are
lamentably ignorant upon the subject,
and few indeed have just conception
of the disease or the proper treatment
to be pursued to effect cure.
Mania-a-potu bears about the same
relation to delirium tremens as
does severe cold to a fever. The
difference between the two is the differ.
ence between imagination and reality.
In mania-a-potu the victim has hal
luclnations, sees strange sights, and
hears people talking to and about him,
all Of which imaginary ideas he can
be reasoned out of; but when the con-
diton of delirium tremens obtains,
everything becomes a reality, and all
the powers this side of eternity cannot
convince the patient to the contrary,
and it is not good policy to make the
attempt
Another very prevalent error lies in
considering person with the tremens
dangerous maniac. 1t is true that de-
lirium tremens is one of the many
forms of insanity, for the time it exists,
but the victim is in no manner danger
Gus to others. He is in constant fear,
and some trouble or danger threatens
him at every point, and his chief desire
is to escape, not by injuring or killing
some one, but to get away from sur
rounding perils. Sometimes his earthly
career is to be cut short by poison, and
no will refuse food, drink or medicine.
Again, he is to be cut into pieces with
knives, and he will beg piteously for
some more speedy form of death. In
fact, death in some form threatens him
on every hand.
Although it is admitted that delirium
tremens is orm of insanity, pro-
duced by excessive alcoholic indul'
gence, it differs from ordinary insanity
in that, during the time the former con
tinues, the person remembers dis
tinctly everything he heard or saw (ir
imagination) and recognizes those with
whom he is acquainted, and also re
members actual conversation; while II
the latter case the period of insanity il
a total blank, whether it be for on
week, one year or more. Medical au
thority and the statistics of various in
ebriate asylums will bear out this state
ment.
Another error, and one that oftel
emanates from so-called temperate
lecturers, who, either from ignoranc
or desire to create sensation and pro
found horror, have depicted man dy
ing from the tremens continual
screaming for rum" Records canno
be Nodnced to attest such statement
AS meter Of fact, q person will ofte
quit drinking when delirium com
mences without knowing that he is il
that condition. In an actual case h
never realizes that he is delirious H
imagines himself all right and ever
one else wrong.
Another error lies in the suppositio
by many that person always die
from the third attack. With prope
treatment he may pass through many
and finally die from old age. Agar
the idea is entertained, and even b
some physicians, that complete will
drawal of alcoholic stimulants from a
excessive drinker is liable to produc
delirium. On the contrary, when tn
system becomes impregnated to Gel
tain degree with alcoholic poison, d.
lirium will supervene whether tn
habit is continued or not. To continu
drinking or to partake of intoXicant
at all, is merely to add fuel to fire, c
poison to poison.
While there is no danger to be feare
from a person in delirium tremen.
there is great danger to the life of tn
sufferer, if not under complete r,
straint, and a person may be Athlete
for days or even weeks before the dis
ease is recognized as such, and man
cases of suicide may be attributed t
this cause. A case is remembered b
the writer of physician of hig
standing in the community, while sui
fering from the disease and an inmat
of an institution, who called for hi
surgical case, and when asked for wha
purpose, answered that his abdome
was full of small snakes, and he e,
planned the manner in which he pre-
posed to perform surgical operatio
on himself to dislodge them. Had h
been home, undoubtedly suicid
would have been recorded in paper
cause unknown. Another person
after being pursued by demons c
every description, and threatened wit
death in many forms, was told by a
immense fish which swan into HI
room that by taking a certain prepar;
ton he would be enabled to live undo
water, and so escape all prosecutions
If the victim had been at liberty,
might have tried the experiment, and
''foater" would have been reported
The Voice.
SALOON POLITICIANS.