DELIRIUM (from Lat. dc/iro, I am furious), a state of deranged mind, in which the intellect and the judgment are perverted or lost, while the imagination and the passions are often excited, or at least left without control. The result is an incoherent or totally disordered course of action and speech, frequently attended by delusions, or unreason ing belief in supposed facts, which the sound mind at once perceive§ to have no exist ence in nature. The nature, extent, and variety of the delusions, and the degree 'to which the control of the reason over them is lost, may be said to indicate the type of delirium to which the patient is subject; and in some instances, the cause of the disease is pretty decidedly shown forth by the prevailing impressions on the mind and senses. Referring to the article insanity for the description of maniacal delirium, or mania, and to the article fever for that of typhoid delirium, or typhomania, we may confine our selves in the present *article to a slight sketch of the delirium arising from habitual intoxication, the (Llirium ebriosorvm or potatorum (of drunkards), or, as it is more com monly called, from the bodily tremors that accompany it, delirium tremens. This disease is not to 'be confounded with the mere paroxysm of intoxication, and still less, if possible, with the insane craving for drink, or dipsomania (q.v.). It is, on the contrary, often found in persons who have not been recently intoxicated at all, though of persistently intemperate habits, and in whom the desire for drink, as well as for food, has been entirely suppressed by the access of the disease. It is- a true though usually a temporary form of insanity or of mania, brought on by the habitual poisoning of the nervous system, over a long course of weeks or months, by alcoholic liquors; and it is not going too far to say that it is rarely, if ever, induced by a single debauch, at least in its aggravated form. Delirium tremens is characterized by a restless, irritable
state of the nervous system, rather than by furious paroxysms of excitement (though these are not rare); by constant though ill-regulated and ineffectual attempts of the patient to occupy himself; by spectral illusions, or the vision and hearing of non existent objects; by tremors of the hands and tongue; by prostration of appetite; and hy great wakefulness, the want of sleep being often protracted over many days and nights, and forming, with the constant excitement of the senses, and the prostration of the vital powers from deficient nourishment, the true source of danger in this disease. The main elements in the cure are careful nursing, and the use of all means to secure sleep, and re-establish the digestion. Opium, hyoscyamus, and antimony, are used in some cases, and tonics with laxatives in others; chloroform has also been employed. In certain cases, stimulants are required for a time; but none of these remedies ought ever to be used except under the best medical advice, for there is little doubt that delirium tremens is one of the diseases where the rash employment of strong medicines is ex tremely dangerous to life, and where good nursing and food, without other remedies, will usually succeed. Where proper protection and vigilance cannot be otherwise secured, the patient should at once be transferred to the nearest hospital or lunatic asylum; and if the attacks have been repeated, he should be detained for some time after his recovery. See DELIRIUM TREMENS.