DELIRIUM (Lat., literally, being otf the straight line, or furrow, from de, off, away -( lira, furrow). -A derangement of mind during illness, 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 beliefs, which the sound mind at once per ceives to have no foundation in fact. The pa tient is generally suffering from an acute dis ease, such as fever. Delirium may occur during the invasion of pneumonia, scarlet fever, small pox, bubonic plague. or during nrtemia, chorea, hysteria, epilepsy, etc. Delirium tremens ( Lat., shaking delirium) is the result of long continued alcoholic intoxication, and may attack a 'mod erate drinker' during a single excessive indul gence. Contrary to a very common belief. it is probably never caused by sudden withdrawal of liquor from one who is constantly indulging in drink. Delirium tremens is characterized by a restless. irritable state of the nervous system,
rather than by furious paroxysms of exeitement I though these arc not rare) by constant though ill-regulated and ineffectual attempts of the patient to occupy himself; by spectral illusions of horrible, terrifying, or very rarely amusing objects. such as animals, snakes. goblins. etc.. or hallucinations of vision and hearing; by tremors of the hands and tongue: by loss of appetite. »ausea, and vomiting: and by great wakefulness, the want of sleep being often protracted over many days and nights. with eonstant eXi qtoment of the senses, and the prostration of the vital powers from deficient nourishment. In treating delirium tremens. bromides, chloral, rarely opium, and other powerful drugs aro used. with purgatives. Stimulants other than alcohol are frequently needed. The condition is very dangerous, as about 17 per cent. of the patients die; and tin t,f of lien the are turiou-, and the direction of nour ishment under the ion or a :see t.conot.: