On the pathology of delirium tremens, and its treatment without stimulants or opiates / by Alexander Peddie.

Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the pathology of delirium tremens, and its treatment without stimulants or opiates / by Alexander Peddie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    Remarks.—An ordinary case of the disease, rather more severe than Case I.; no suspension of wonted libations up to the period of seizure; excellent illustration of the modus operandi of the tartar emetic; and also of the benefit derived from the other means recom- mended for sustaining the organic functions, and bringing about natural sleep. Case III.—An engineer, aged 30. Had been twice formerly under my care in delirium tremens, and recovered well without the use of stimulants or opiates. Has been drinking largely and constantly for some months past, and exhibiting at times excessive irritability and violence of temper—even to the extent of threatening the lives of his wife and children. In apprehension of this disposition he was some time since treated for delirium tremens in the Morningside Asylum; but on what plan I do not know, save that he was con- fined in a dark chamber. On the present occasion, at my Jirst visit, I found that he had been drinking up to the moment of his attack,which had commenced decidedly two days before. His pulse was 110, soft, and of tolerable strength ; hands very tremulous ; aspect extremely haggard ; skin moist; tongue clean. He had been quite sleepless for two nights ; but not violent in his manner or conduct. He was laughing and talking incoherently,—looking constantly un- der his pillow, and carrying on a conversation with imaginary beings undei- neath, in this way,— aye, oh yes, yes, certainly, just so, etc. On requesting to know what the devils were wanting, he replied, a glass of whisky. Prescribed—]J Tart. Ant. gr. vj. Aquse Ibij. Solve. A wine-glassful every two hours; and desired that he should be closely watched, and kindly treated. To have some weak beef-tea occasionally. 2d day.—Had a few minutes sleep this morning, but his general aspect is in all respects worse. Pulse 116. He is very restless and agitated, wishful to get out; thinks his workshop is on fire ; that the police want to get hold of him, and has many such like fancies. I discovered that a bottle of table-beer had been given to him this morning. A wine-glassful and a half of the antimonial solution to be given every two hours. 3d day, 11.30 a.m.—He had walked about all yesterday in a state of great excitement; got the antimony very regularly, and lay down for the first time about 10 P.M., when he fell into a sleep. This continued until 6 a.m., when he awoke quite collected, and has since continued so. Pulse 80 ; hands very tre- mulous ; has taken a good breakfast, and is in all respects apparently con- valescent. 4<A day.—Quite well.' ^ Since the above occurred, this patient, on account of domestic calamities, was removed to the Royal Infirmary, under another attack of delirium tremens, where he died in an epileptic seif ure. I understand that the plan of treatment practised in that instance was the one usually followed—namely, restraint in a strait-waist coat, stimulants, and opiates.