354 



On Delirium Tremens. 



No. 15. April 25th, age 25. — 

 Is a drunkard; is said to have 

 had dysentery for several days 

 before admission, and to have 

 taken a large quantity of liquor 

 since yesterday ; admitted in a 

 state of insensibility, with tremor 

 of the muscles of the face. 



General Symptoms. — 1st day, 

 lies in a state of stupor ; mutters 

 unintelligibly when questioned ; 

 contracted pupils ; pallid counten- 

 ance ; perspiring brow ; convul- 

 sive tremor of face ; jaws fixed ; 

 thready pulse ; tumid, tender ab- 

 domen ; shrinks under pressure at 

 left iliac region. 



2nd morning — delirious in night, 

 left his bed ; now in a state of 

 stupor ; skin warm, perspiring. 



1 o'clock p. m. — bowels open ; 

 has passed scybala ; stupor ; heat 

 of head. 



Evening — stupor ; eyelid clos- 

 ed ; moaning ; jactitation ; quick, 

 small, weak pulse; a damp surface. 



3rd morning — still takes medi- 

 cine ; state much the same. Sink- 

 ing : died at 11 o'clock a. m. 



No. 16. June, age 25. — Has 

 been drinking for days, previous- 

 ly to admission; is a confirmed 

 drunkard ; has been treated for 

 delirium tremens outside during 

 the last few days — has been drink- 

 ing hard just before admission ; 

 the delirium has increased in se- 

 verity. 



Symptoms. — Incoherence ; tre- 

 mor ; heated skin ; rapid pulse. 



2nd morning — no sleep in 

 night; has fallen down and cut 



No. 15. 1st night — Calomel 

 gr. iij. Opii: gr. i. 4 tis. hor. 

 blister to abdomen, sinapisms. 



2nd morning — has taken 3 doses 

 of medicine ; Jalap 5j- st. Enema: 

 Purg : postea, blister nuchye. 



1 o'clock p. m. — Calomel gr. 

 iij. Opii: gr. -J st. et 3 tis. hor. 

 sinapisms again, cupping on the 

 temples to ^ 2 or 3. 



Evening — has taken one dose 

 only of medicine, Enema Purg : 

 another blister nuchae. 



Night — ammonia and quinine. 



3rd morning — ammonia, bran- 

 dy, &c. 



Post Mortem Examination four 

 hours after death. 



Head. — An injected state of 

 the feeding veins of the sinuses, 

 and of the vessels of the pia 

 mater, but not to a great extent ; 

 fluid effused within the bag of 

 the arachnoid ; a dram or two of 

 serum within each ventricle ; brain 

 naturally firm. Blood vessels at 

 the base of the brain injected. 



Intestines. — The mucous mem- 

 brane of the whole of the large 

 bowels of a deep purple and 

 highly congested appearance. 

 Mesentery glands much enlarged 

 and extra vascular, — contents of 

 bowels bilious and mucous matter 

 of different colours. 



No. 16. 1st evening — Tinct: 

 Opii : 5j- 2 dis. hor. for six times, 

 if the symptoms be not abated 

 — sinapism all along spine. 



2nd Morning — (has taken six 

 doses of Tinct : Opii :) Calomel 



