Novel Case of Delirium.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue III, 21 July 1900, Page 125

Novel Case of Delirium.

A very novel ease of delirium recently came under the observation of Dr. C. It. Church, a well known practitioner of Ottawa, Canada. When Dr.. Chiireh was a house surgeon in a hospital at Montreal, there had been a complaint about the inferior quality of a certain order of Indian hemp delivered at the hospital by a 'local druggist. Indian hemp is a powerful opiate, producing varying effects upon people of different temper-aments. While its effect on a Chinaman or a native of India might be merely to soothe, on an American or an Englishman it would probably produce some form of d< mcntia more or less acute if taken in any quantity. Considering the order of Indian hemp to be inferior. Dr. Church, accompanied by another member of the hospital staff, called at the drug store to complain altout the matter and obtain a fresh supply. They expressed themselves quite freely to the unfortunate druggist.

Whi'ie the matter was being discussed. Dr. Church was startled by seeing his associate impetuously toss some of the Indian hemp into his hand and straightway swallow it. to show how powerless and ineffective he deemed it to be. It seemed, however, to those who witnessed it to be rather a foolhardy performance. Nothing more was thought of the incident at the time. The two set out from the drug store together to return to the hospital. One stop was made at a cafe on the way. from which they proceeded to the hospital. arriving there just at the hour for dinner.

Dr. Church's associate usually did the carving, and he was proceeding to do so. when all at once he laid down the knife and proceeded to laugh uproariously. He shook and roared with laughter. Like a flash Dr. Churct. thought of the Indian hemp, and eyed the other closely. The next instant the man seized the carving knife and made a mad rush for Dr. Church. Round ana round the table they ran. one after the other, until Dr. Church found an opportunity to strike his pursuer a stunning blow back of the ear, felling him to the ground. Assistance being S]»eedily summoned the unfortunate man was soon overpowered, and was taken up stairs, undressed and put to bed. In the process of disrobing he became very cold, suffering a severe chill, which called for hot applications. Upon his recovery, the patient was abie

to describe very vividly the remarkable series of hallucinations experienced while still under the influence of the Indian hemp so recklessly partaken of. It appears from the man's narrative of his impressions and delusions, as related by him afterward, that when he was laughing so uproariously he thought he was at a circus and that Dr. Church was the clown—and a very funny clown he seemed. And the man laughed and laughed. But the de’iusion was soon succeeded by another. He next thought that his friend was one of the wild animals escaped from the menagerie, which it became his duty to despatch. It was at this point that he seized the carving knife and made the murderous rush. His next impressor. was that he was a balloon, being inflated and swaying to and fro with the breeze. This was. doubtless.

when he was recovering from the effects of the stunning' blow he had received and was being - brought to his feet preparatory to being taken up stairs. It may be assumed that he fell light headed ami staggered some what, giving rise to the idea that he was a swaying balloon. His next delusion still continued the idea that he was a balloon, only this time he imagined that the balloon was going up. He thought he was a balloon ascension. The simple fact that he .was being taken up stairs gives the origin of that idea. After that he thought he was an icelterg floating about on the waves and bumping into other icebergs equally hard ami cold. This is explained by h/s being undressed and sustaining a chill in the process. The next and final delusion of this remarkable series was. perhaps, the most terrible of a'il.

'lbis time the man thought himself to be in Hades and consigned there forever. 'rhe heat was unendurable, and time seemed not to move. He would gaze fixedly at the clock upon the wall then turn his eyes away. After what seemed to him hours, though in reality a very short time, he would look again and find that the hands of the clock had hardly moved. "This," thought the unhappy man. is how time moves in hell." His heart failed him at the idea of such slow going and yet end’iess years. Then at last sleep overtook him. and when he awakened, though feeling weak and sick, the influence of the drug had so far passed as to leave his mind once more clear. The last delusion was caused by certain hot applications, which suggested to his disordered mind the fires of perdition. This case presents a very novel succession of delusions.