the relief of sickness and want, and for the instruction of the poor, the deaf, and the blind.

The third division, affords an opportunity, of which the preacher has not failed to make a powerful use, to exhibit the religious state of the heathen world, in contrast with the hopes and joys of the followers of the Redeemer.

From many passages, which might be selected for the purpose of exhibiting the style and manner of the author, we take the following. pp. 18, 19.

"Such is the influence of Christianity, in the formation of Christian character. Its effects in multiplying this character, are correspondent. In both cases indeed, it has been retarded by the corrupt passions, and dishonored by the base hypocrisy of sinful men. Still, its effects have been astonishing. If a man, at the birth of Christ, had attempted to prophecy the fate of Christianity amidst the darkness, corruption, and enmity of the world, he would doubtless have predicted its speedy extinction. But such has not been its destiny. It has had a growth, and an influence,which, to such a prophet as we have supposed, would have appeared morally impossible, and absolutely incredible. It has fitted millions and millions, for the purities of heaven; whilst millions and millions more, are under its pupilage. It has proved, and is now proving to every grade of beings, from high to low, from learned to ignorant, their best possession, and their dearest hope. The Christian mother, her elf supported by the promises of God, now takes the gospel of Christ, and with its holy principles imbues the mind of her tender offspring; and, as its tear starts, at a recital of the Saviour's sufferings, or its countenance brightens with the hopes of futurity, she clasps it to her bosom, full of the anticipated joy of meeting it in heaven. The weary find their rest, and the afflicted their comfort, in the influence of the gospel; and the friendless orphan, as she takes her way through life, without any encouraging support, and with

scarce a guide but her Saviour, still supports her courage, looks to her Heavenly Parent, and with composure exclaims; "When my father and my mother forsake me, thou takest me up."

FIRST LESSONS ON THE GREAT PRINCIPLES OF RELIGION. Designed to and Private Families. Philadelphia: be used in Infant and Sabbath Schools, American Sunday School Union, No. 146 Chestnut Street.

This book is divided into Lessons, each one having for its subject, one of the attributes of God, or some mor al duty. Such as the Omnipresence, Holiness, Wisdom of the Creator: Stealing, Lying, the Sabbath. At the close of each lesson, are questions, intended to exercise the thinking and reasoning powers. They can generally be answered readily, by children of four or five years, if the lesson has been previously read and explained, and an interest awakened in the subject. I have tried the experiment, as far as the first fourteen lessons go, with children under this age, and should think, that, in the hands of an intelligent parent or teacher, the book would be of great use. In each lesson, are introduced Scripture references, which strikingly illustrate the truth to be impressed upon the mind.

In the chapter illustrating the goodness of God, I found the interest of the little pupils much increased, by showing them specimens of the natu ral objects described, as far as it was possible, such as, for instance, the coffee-berry, the tea-leaf, beans, and the different kinds of clothing made from cotton, wool, and flax, which can always be procured easily.

The chapter upon lying, is excellent, and calculated to make a strong impression upon the mind of a child.

I think the little volume well calculated to illustrate moral and relig ious truths, and generally adapted to quite young minds, though the last few lessons, might, perhaps, be rendered more simple and direct.

A MOTHER,

THE

RELIGIOUS MAGAZINE.

NO. IX.

JUNE, 1834.

DELIRIUM TREMENS.

Remarks on the History and Treatment of Delirium Tremens. By JOHN WARE, M. D. 1831.

God, in his Providence, has assigned to vice the most awful of the diseases which afflict humanity. Each form of vice has its own peculiar scourge, terrible beyond description. That of intemperance, Delirium Tremens is an uncontrollable phrensy, in which the patient suffers all that it seems possible for a human being to suffer, of terror, anguish and despair. The popular name for the disease, in Alms-houses, and Hospitals, is the Horrors. It is one of the more striking of those varieties of wretchedness which they produce, who, by the traffic in ardent spirit, are scattering firebrands, arrows and death, over the community.

From the pamphlet above named, we make some extracts, which will illustrate the nature of this disease. In the first place, in respect to the persons exposed to it.

"There is hardly any state or degree of disease in drunkards, in which an attack of this disease may not be looked on, as a possible or even probable occurrence. Generally speaking, the more severe the original affection, the more likely is this secondary one to make its appearance; but this is not always true. It supervenes on a very slight indisposition in one individual, whilst another will pass through an attack of great severity, without exhibiting any indication of its approach.

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Neither does the degree of indulgence in the use of ardent spirits, afford any rule for measuring the probability of its occurrence. It often happens that the confirmed sot will escape its visitation for years, and perhaps for life; whilst a young man, who has but just begun the habit of indulgence, may have an attack on the slightest indisposition."

"It is a common belief, that Delirium Tremens, is immediately occasioned by abstinence from ardent spirits, whether this abstinence be forced or voluntary. It is not intended to deny that abstinence may sometimes produce this effect; yet I feel very certain, that in a large proportion of cases, it has nothing to do with it. The symptoms of this affection frequently ensue shortly after a course of excessive indulgence. In this case, it is not that the discontinuance of the indulgence occasions the disease; but that the access of the disease creates a distaste for liquor, and is the occasion of the discontinuance of its use. The disease occurs also in individuals, whose habit of drinking has never been suspended at all, but has continued up to the very commencement of the delirium."

The most remarkable and prominent symptoms are delirium, sleeplessness, and a tremor of the limbs. Hence the name Delirium Tremens, or trembling madness. It has been proposed also to call it Delirium Vigilans, or sleepless madness, a name, which, it is said, is equally descriptive of its character. The delirium, which is the most terrible of the symptoms, and the one which occasions the most agonizing sufferings, is thus described by the writer.

"His (the patient's) imaginary perceptions are generally removed entirely from the actual state of things about him. They often relate to his particular occupation or business, or to whatever other subject may happen at the time to weigh most heavily on his mind. Almost always he imagines himself to be in a different place from that in which he is, and under some disagreeable circumstances. The seaman thinks himself at sea in a gale of wind, vainly endeavoring to bring his vessel to a safe and proper bearing; the smith at his anvil, laboring ineffectually over a piece of work which he can never finish; the cooper, toiling in vain over hoops and staves, which he cannot match; and the rope-maker, twisting forever an interminable length of yarn. All are engaged in a Sysiphian labor, which they are doomed never to accomplish.

"But although the predominating idea for the time, has full possession of the mind, and everything is made to conform to

it, yet it is frequently changed in the course of the disease, and has sometimes no relation whatever to any of the habits of the patient, or to any circumstances or things with which he is connected. Thus a patient who had been dissolving a co-partnership before his sickness, was in the first place constantly busied in an entangling controversy about the settlement with his partner; then he suddenly conceived himself to be chased by an alligator, who had been concealed in the chimney of his room; then he would seize upon his bed, and shake it upon the floor, in search of rats and mice, which he supposed to be concealed there, or busy himself in picking lice from his clothes, fleas from his pillow, or hairs out of his drink.

"There is in the aspect and conduct of those affected by this delirium, a very peculiar and strong impression of reality. Nothing can be more real than the expression of horror, fear, or despair, which are occasionally witnessed in the unfortunate subjects of this disease. The dread of robbery and of murder are as distinctly produced in their minds, as they can be in those of persons actually subjected to these dangers. There is often a thrilling and almost startling truth in their expressions of voice and countenance; and from the entire absence of any of the proper exciting causes of such emotions, the whole scene appears to the by-stander like excellent acting.

"The presence of a stranger, and more particularly of the medical attendant, is almost always sufficient to calm, for a short time, the most violent of these patients, and even to suspend the current of their imaginations. It is only, however, for a short time; for if the visit of the physician, even, be prolonged to any considerable length, his authority is lost, and the delirium returns in its full violence. I once sat beside a patient for an hour or two in the beginning of the evening, when the paroxysm was coming on, with the hope of being able to keep up that kind of influence, which I found was at first exerted over him. He was a person of character and education. For some time, by speaking decidedly to him, when attempting to rise from his bed, at the same time lifting up my finger as if to indicate the importance of silence and quietness, I succeeded in inducing him to throw himself back and remain still, though looking wildly around, and talking incoherently of things which he supposed to be going on about him. Sudderly he started up, escaped from the opposite side of the bed, and immediately attempted to jump from a window that was near. After his recovery he for some time believed that I had sat by him with a pistol in my hand, which I pointed at him whenever he at

tempted to get up or to escape. The impression thus produced on his mind was very disagreeable, and was not obliterated for a considerable time.

"Patients laboring under Delirium Tremens are not disposed to commit violence or do mischief intentionally; and although it is very common for them to tear their clothes and break furniture in pieces, yet it is generally with the intention of bringing about some important purpose, which they, imagine they can thus accomplish. There is nothing morose or sullen in the temper they display. Indeed they are usually timid, irresolute, and easily alarmed. The apprehension of some design upon them, is often the predominating feeling in their minds, and they as frequently imagine that they have already suffered some severe injury. They are in fear of sheriffs, of robbers, of being murdered, &c. They commonly believe that they have been carried away, and are forcibly detained from home. They often start at any loud and sudden noise, thinking that a musket has been fired at them. One patient declared that he had been flayed, and as a proof pointed to the bare flesh of his arm, from which, as he said, the skin had been taken; another asserted that he had been taken to pieces and put together again. In the state of extreme terror to which these various apprehensions reduce them, it is not uncommon for them to attempt jumping from windows, and this they sometimes accomplish.

"I know of but one individual who has committed any violence on himself. He did this in two several attacks. In the first, he had suffered very severely from pain in the head, was much dejected, and impressed with some undefined expectation of evil. He mangled his throat with a penknife, bled profusely, but was prevented from farther mischief, and his paroxysm went through its usual course. In the second attack, he made a similar attempt with a razor, wounded some small arteries, and cut badly into the larnyx. He bled to faintness, and was much reduced by the hemorrhage, but his disorder was not affected by the loss of blood, and he finally recovered.

"There is hardly anything in disease more remarkable than the spectacle exhibited by a patient in the height of a paroxysm of Delirium Tremens. We see him intently engaged in the pursuit of some imaginary object, laboring with the utmost diligence and earnestness upon imaginary materials, and with imaginary companions; his countenance haggard and worn by anxiety and watchfulness, and his hair, face and limbs, bathed in a profuse sweat. At one time we find him support