Delirium

(de-lir’-e-um). Extravagant talking, raving, generally due to high fever. The nurse must watch the patient carefully, as he is as irresponsible for his deeds as for his words, and may escape from bed, or even commit suicide. Too often a patient has committed suicide “in the absence of the nurse”; the nurse should never be absent, without leaving some one else in charge. — s. 41 —