Delirium Tremens

or MANIA À POTU, (-trem'enz.) (Med.) An affection which proceeds from the abuse of alcohol, and sometimes also from the sudden withdrawal of an habitual amount of alcoholic stimulation. The symptoms attending the acce are anorexia, insomnia, muscular tremor, more especially tremulousne of the tongue, and notable dejection. This state is known among drunkards as " the horrors." The mental depre ion is so great as not infrequently to lead to suicide. There is no pain in the head nor febrile movement; the pulse is generally feeble, and the surface cool. This stage continues for 1, 2, or 3 days. If the affection ends favorably, sleep at length occurs; and, after sleeping much of the time for 1 or 2 days, convalescence is established, and the patient recovers more or le slowly or rapidly according to the duration of the affection and his physical condition at the time of the attack. If the affection pursues an unfavorable course, the insomnia persists and notable prostration ensues; the delirium continues, with efforts to get out of bed, and the pulse becomes more and more frequent and feeble, till death takes place. D. T. was formerly treated by blood-letting and other of the so-called antiphlogistic measures, under the belief that it involved either inflammation or cerebral congestion. Those measures are now abandoned as injurious. Within late years, various curative methods of treatment have been advocated on the ground of succe ; and, in endeavoring to judge of their respective merits, it is to be borne in mind that, under favorable circumstances, the intrinsic tendency of this affection is to recovery. The only thing that may be said here, is, that the great object of treatment is to procure sleep. It is the duty of the physician, after recovery from this disease, to inform the patient of its character, and to point out the inevitable consequences of the habits which have induced it. And the patient will be aided in an effort to emancipate himself from the slavery of intemperance, by remedies and hygienic measures which tend to invigorate the body, thereby strengthening the mental powers. Delium,(dē'le-um.) (Anc. Geog.) A city of Greece which had a famous temple of Apollo. A battle was fought here, B. c. 424, in which the Bœotians defeated the A then i ans; and another, 192, when the Syrians, under Antiochus the Great, defeated the Romans. [s. 273]