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

  • Peddie, Alexander, 1810-1907.
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 University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    but the muscular tremor and tendinous jerkings are so great as to prevent its being correctly counted. Half-grain doses of antimony to be given every hour, and beef-tea liberally. 11p.m. Shortly after last visit the excitement had begun to subside, and with each successive dose of the tartar emetic he was observed to become calmer and more rational. At 3 p.m. he was taken out by a hired keeper for a short walk, but the latter having shortly before had some drink, took his charge into a spirit shop to get more. Here the patient, although offered liquor, declined ; but the attendant having drank freely, and being unable to take care of himself, the former had actually to help him home. Worn out by this exertion, he went immediately to bed—half-past 4 p.m.— and has slept soundly until now. He is quite composed and rational. Anti- mony discontinued. 7 th day, 11 a.m.—In all respects quite convalescent. Had eight hours sleep over night. 8t7i day.—Left cured. Remarks.—The above is an instance of a somewhat severe attack of delirium tremens, in which recovery took place under the use of tartar emetic, etc., at a much earlier period than on the previous occasions when the treatment was stimulo-narcotic. It is also an additional illustration of the fact that the accustomed stimulus is frequently diminished by the patient himself when the disease is forming and advancing, simply from a sense of inability to stand the same amount as formerly. It likewise illustrates what I have fre- quently observed, namely, a severe outbreak of excitement shortly before recovery commenced, but which must be unhesitatingly met with the antimony, perhaps in increased doses. Case VII.—The last-mentioned patient having fallen back into habits of in- temperance after the lapse of a year, was again seized with delirium tremens. On my first visit at 5.30 p.m., I found that he had been carefully treated and watched by an intelligent student of medicine who lodged in the same house, and who not only had observed the success of the practice pursued on the pre- vious occasion (Case VI.), but had during the interval, by the timely use of the same means, cut short two threatened attacks of the disease. It appeared that he had been drinking very freely up to the premonitory period of this attack, three or four days ago, since which time he has had an aversion to liquor, has tasted none,slept none, and laboured—especially during the last two days—under considerable excitement of the usual kind. There had already been given to him, in one-fourth and half-grain doses, viij. grains of the tartrate of antimony. His pulse I found to be 120, weak and slightly irregular; skin clammy; hands tremulous; face pale, notwithstanding a considerable eruption of acne; pupils dilated; and the tongue furred and presenting prints of the teeth along its edges. His chief occupation was examining anxiously the corners of the room, presses^