DELIRIUM TREMENS. 353 



Few persons di^in their first attack of delirium tremens, 

 but it is nature's unmistakable warning to the tippler; let 

 him not disregard it, unless he is prepared to die without 

 hope in maniacal imaginings so. frightful that those around 

 his death-bed can never recall the scene without horror ! 



Dipsomania is often confounded with delirium tremens, 

 but though it may lead to that disease it is an essentially 

 different pathological state. The word properly means a 

 mental disease in which there is periodically an irresistible 

 passion for alcohol; in any form, no matter how distasteful, 

 the dipsomaniac will swallow it with avidity. The disease 

 is sometimes produced by indulgence in drink, but is more 

 often inherited, especially from parents addicted to alco- 

 holic excess. In the families of such, one child is often 

 epileptic, another idiotic, a third eccentric or perhaps quite 

 mad, and a fourth a dipsomaniac. When the fit seizes him 

 the dipsomaniac is as irresponsible as a raving madman. 

 His only safeguard against a frightful debauch is to place 

 himself under restraint as soon as he perceives the symp- 

 toms which he has learned to recognize as premonitory of 

 his fit of madness. After a time the paroxysm passes off; 

 the patient regains self-control, loses his passion for drink, 

 is greatly ashamed of himself if he has indulged it, and 

 usually behaves in an irreproachable manner for some weeks 

 or months. 



The sufferers from this frightful disease are entitled to a 

 sympathy to which the common drunkard has no claim. 



III. Chronic and often Incurable Diseased Conditions 

 produced by Alcohol. These are apt to be insidious in their 



What is the proper meaning of the word dipsomania? What dis- 

 eases are apt to be found in the children of parents given to alcoholic 

 excess? What should a dipsomaniac do Avhen he feels the fit coming 

 or ? What happens when the paroxysm passes off? 



