DELIRIUM TREMENS

A disease of the brain, resulting from the exce ive and protracted use of spirituous liquors; it is therefore almost peculiar to drunkards. It begins with exce ive irritability, lo of sleep, frightful dreams and visions, and a multiplicity of the ordinary delusions of insane persons, ending in furious madne . The hands are usually, but not always, tremulous. By careful treatment, and more especially by the judicious use of opium, patients have recovered from this disease; but, for obvious reasons, it is difficult to manage, and subject to relapses. Bleeding should in almost all cases be, if po ible, avoided. [s. 336]