Report of cases of delirium tremens occurring in the Hospital of the Baltimore Alms House, with observations : to which is added an appendix, containing an appeal in behalf of the insane poor of Maryland / by A.C. Robinson.

  • Robinson, A. C. (Alexander C.)
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of cases of delirium tremens occurring in the Hospital of the Baltimore Alms House, with observations : to which is added an appendix, containing an appeal in behalf of the insane poor of Maryland / by A.C. Robinson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    REPORT. Report of Cases of Delirium Tremens, occurring in the Hospital of the Baltimore Alms House, with observations, by Alexander C. Robinson, M. D. one of the attending physicians. The frequent occurrence of attacks of that peculiar form of phan- tomic delirium, usually consequent upon the habitual use of ardent spirits, and to which the term Delirium Tremens is generally ap- plied, the manner in which it sometimes completely masks acute inflammations of the thoracic or abdominal viscera, and the unex- pectedly fatal result in some instances of the disease, even under the most carefully conducted remedial means, renders whatever relates to the subject, interesting to the medical practitioner. It is under this conviction, and not from any idea of their novelty or value, that we have consented to arrange for publication, the accompanying observations, in lieu of the simple reports we were preparing, of some of the many interesting cases of Delirium Tre- mens, treated in the Baltimore Alms House Infirmary, within the last eighteen months, from notes taken at the period or*each visit. It is only within the last thirty years that the general attention of the profession has been directed to the history, specific charac- ter, and appropriate treatment of Delirium Tremens. It is stated that previous to the appearance of Dr. Pearson's monograph, written for private distribution, as early as 1801, accurately de- scribing the disease under the title of Brain fever, following in- toxication, and suggesting a treatment now generally approved, several medical teachers had noticed its distinctive character, but to Dr. Sutton who conferred upon it the appellation of Delirium