The Collaborative International Dictionary
Delirium \De*lir"i*um\ (d[-e]*l[i^]r"[i^]*[u^]m), n. [L., fr. delirare to rave, to wander in mind, prop., to go out of the furrow in plowing; de- + lira furrow, track; perh. akin to G. geleise track, rut, and E. last to endure.]
(Med.) A state in which the thoughts, expressions, and actions are wild, irregular, and incoherent; mental aberration; a roving or wandering of the mind, -- usually dependent on a fever or some other disease, and so distinguished from mania, or madness.
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Strong excitement; wild enthusiasm; madness.
The popular delirium [of the French Revolution] at first caught his enthusiastic mind.
--W. Irving.The delirium of the preceding session (of Parliament).
--Morley.Delirium tremens. [L., trembling delirium] (Med.), a violent delirium induced by the excessive and prolonged use of intoxicating liquors.
Traumatic delirium (Med.), a variety of delirium following injury.
Syn: Insanity; frenzy; madness; derangement; aberration; mania; lunacy; fury. See Insanity.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1813, medical Latin, literally "trembling delirium," introduced 1813 by British physician Thomas Sutton, for "that form of delirium which is rendered worse by bleeding, but improved by opium. By Rayer and subsequent writers it has been almost exclusively applied to delirium resulting from the abuse of alcohol" [Sydenham Society Lexicon of Medicine]. As synonyms, Farmer lists barrel-fever, gallon distemper, blue Johnnies, bottle ache, pink spiders, quart-mania snakes in the boots, triangles, uglies, etc.
Wiktionary
n. (context pathology English) A psychosis of chronic alcoholism, usually due to alcohol withdrawal, which can be fatal. Symptoms include sweating, tremors, terrifying hallucinations, insomnia, restlessness, disorientation and anxiety.
WordNet
n. acute delirium caused by alcohol poisoning [syn: DTs]
Wikipedia
Delirium tremens (DTs) is a rapid onset of confusion usually caused by withdrawal from alcohol. When it occurs, it is often three days into the withdrawal symptoms and lasts for two to three days. People may also see or hear things other people do not. Physical effects may include shaking, shivering, irregular heart rate, and sweating. Occasionally, a very high body temperature or seizures may result in death. Alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs from which to withdraw.
Delirium tremens typically only occurs in people with a high intake of alcohol for more than a month. A similar syndrome may occur with benzodiazepine and barbiturate withdrawal. Withdrawal from stimulants such as cocaine does not have major medical complications. In a person with delirium tremens it is important to rule out other associated problems such as electrolyte abnormalities, pancreatitis, and alcoholic hepatitis.
Prevention is by treating withdrawal symptoms. If delirium tremens occurs, aggressive treatment improves outcomes. Treatment in a quiet intensive care unit with sufficient light is often recommended. Benzodiazepines are the medication of choice with diazepam, lorazepam, chlordiazepoxide, and oxazepam all commonly used. They should be given until a person is lightly sleeping. The antipsychotic haloperidol may also be used. The vitamin thiamine is recommended. Mortality without treatment is between 15% and 40%. Currently death occurs in about 1% to 4% of cases.
About half of people with alcoholism will develop withdrawal symptoms upon reducing their use. Of these, three to five percent develop DTs or have seizures. The name delirium tremens was first used in 1813; however, the symptoms were well described since the 1700s. The word "delirium" is Latin for "going off the furrow," a plowing metaphor. It is also called shaking frenzy and Saunders-Sutton syndrome. Nicknames include barrel-fever, blue horrors, bottleache, bats, drunken horrors, elephants, gallon distemper, quart mania, pink spiders, among others.
Delirium Tremens is the only studio album by the American experimental music ensemble Sulfur, released on June 16, 1998 by Goldenfly Records. With French composer and vocalist Michele Amar acting as bandleader, the album includes performances by members of Firewater, Motherhead Bug, Soul Coughing and Swans.
Delirium tremens (DTs) is a state of confusion of rapid onset that is usually caused by withdrawal from alcohol.
Delirium Tremens may also refer to:
- Delirium Tremens (beer), a beer by Huyghe Brewery
- Omega, California, a town formally called Delirium Tremens
- Delirium Tremens (album), an album by Sulfur
- Delirum Tremens, an album by X-Alfonso
- Delirum Tremens, a song by Christy Moore
Usage examples of "delirium tremens".
He seemed so at ease, in spite of his obvious problems and the way he'd raved in the throes of his delirium tremens.
It gives prompt ease to an irritable bladder, and is said to be an excellent drink in cases of delirium tremens.
She had used it only once, that last day, when Earl had begun to hallucinate from a combination of delirium tremens and just plain lunacy.
It has also been employed in the treatment of internal haemorrhage, in inflammatory diseases, in delirium tremens, in epilepsy, in acute mania and various other diseases, with real or supposed benefits.
Quebeck was surveyed and laid out by a gentleman who had been afflicted with the delirium tremens from childhood, and hence his idees of things was a little irreg'ler.
By these signs I knew that he was in the middle of an attack of delirium tremens, and I tried to quiet him by means of laudanum, but it had no effect upon him.
Now and then at night I had brief spells of delirium tremens--a recurrent form which sometimes afflicts a person long after he has stopped drinking--but they were never severe.
Then, you will say, delirium tremens (and the intoxication of hashish, in respect more particularly of the time sense) afford us a parallel.
But the phenomena of delirium tremens do not occur in the healthy.
With nothing dramatic, no three-day bender, no delirium tremens in a drunk tank, no cloth straps and Thorazine or a concerned psychiatrist to look anxiously into your face.