Acute delirium, called by some acute insanity,* was long confounded with cerebral inflammations. We, in accordance with M. Lelut, have separated it from this group of diseases,† and we are thus conducted, by a natural transition, from nervous to inflammatory affections.

Maniacal excitement, which forms one of the characteristics of acute delirium, leads to the supposition that it awakens fantastic conceptions and sensorial illusions in the minds of the sufferers, and our experience confirms the idea.

* Le de1ire aigu; folie aigue.

† Lelut, Introduction Bur la valeur des alterations de l'encephale dans le delire aigu et dans la folie, Paris, 1836. - Brierre de Boismont, Du delire aigu qu'on observe dans les etablissements d'alienes (pamphlet read in the Royal Academy of Medicine in 1842, inserted in the 11th vol. of the Mimoires de l'Academic, and honored with a gold medal by the Institute). - Art. Delire aigu, bibliotheque des medecines praticiens, t. ix. - Art. Delire, in the supplement of the Dictionnaire des Dictionnaires de Medecine, 1851, p. 188. - Sandras, Maladies Nerveuses, 1851, t. i. p. 569. On a form of disease resembling some advanced stages of mania and fever, by Luther V. Bell, M. D., American Journal of Insanity, Oct. 1849.

Some individuals who are attacked with acute delirium, see persons hiding beneath the bed, in a wardrobe, etc.; point out and desire to drive them away; others think they are surrounded by frogs and serpents, who try to kill them. Doubtless, the terror, the cries, the inclination to bite, to strike, or to throw themselves from a height, which are remarked in a number of these persons, are caused by hallucinations of an alarming character. This is also observed in maniacs, in whom it is not always easy to discover the delusion of the senses.

The nature of hallucinations is often in affinity, in this delirium, with the habits, character, and passions of the individual. A very religious young lady cried continually, "I am surrounded with devils; begone, Satan; 'sweet Jesus, drive him away!" A young student persisted in entreating that the water which surrounded his bed should be removed; he saw it gradually mounting to his breast, and felt almost choked. A Protestant minister, who had suffered great reverses of fortune, was seized with acute intermittent delirium. During each attack, he saw sinister figures, who menaced him with hell, and insulted and tormented him.

Illusions are also equally common in acute delirium. The sick take those who surround them for other individuals of their acquaintance; or rather it appears to them as if they were transformed. Illusions of taste and smell are also noticed in acute delirium. The drinks which are offered to these patients are often rejected with horror, because they pretend that they smell of smoke, that they have a bad taste, or that they are poison. Others, again, we have seen to whom the drinks had the flavor of the most exquisite wines, and who went into a sort of ecstasy on tasting them.