erally some hereditary taint; and not unfrequently evidences, though often slight, of a morbid mental state may be detected in the intervals, if very carefully looked for.”

§ 36. Quininism; similarity of symptoms to alcoholism.

From some personal experiences as well as observations the author is induced to say that the excessive use of quinine and perhaps other medicines will produce delirium, and in fact some of the symptoms, at least, of delirium tremens. And in this conclusion he is supported, to some extent, by respectable authority.

A disease known as quininism is recognized by medical authors; and it is defined to be "a group of symptoms chiefly connected with the nervous system, produced by the presence of quinine in the system" Quain's Med. Dic. (8th Am. ed.) 1317.

Large doses of quinine, or smaller doses long continued, may act upon the nervous system after absorption, and the nervous symptoms thus produced are usually called cinchonism: Id.

On this subject Dr. Burton observes: "The nervous symptoms to which the term cinchon

ism is applied consists of affections of the hearing and sight, cephalalgia, and sometimes giddiness. Delirium, convulsions and collapse are said to occur after very large doses. Noises are heard in the ears, the sounds being of a humming character, or resembling a distant water-fall, the ringing of bells, or the striking of a clock. These noises are accompanied by more or less deafness, voices being heard as if the speakers were at a distance. Affections of the

sight are less common. They consist of occasional optical illusions, intolerance to light, amblyophia, mydriasis, and even blindness after large doses.

Giddiness also comes on,

so that the patient may have difficulty in standing or walking, either after a single large dose, or after repeated or continued small doses. The giddiness is probably partly due to weakness of the circulation, in part to the action of quinine on the nerves and nervous centers. In some persons large doses of quinine cause a febrile condition, unaccompanied by cephalalgia, but preceded by humming in the ears, disturbances of the mental faculties, and a slight rigor. In others, the cerebral symptoms have been so

marked as almost to amount to a temporary mania: "Quain's Med. Dic. (6th Am. ed.) 1318. See post, topics Delirium and Delirium Tremens, §§ 38, 40.

§ 37. Delirium in general.

This is a form of mental aberration incident to febrile diseases and sometimes to the last stages of chronic diseases. Of this aberration of mind, Messrs. Guy & F., in their Forensic Medicine, observe: "Regardless of persons or things around him, and scarcely capable of recognizing them when aroused by his attendants, the patient retires within himself, to dwell upon the scenes and events of the past which pass before him in wild and disorderly array, while the tongue feebly records the varying impressions in the form of disjointed, incoherent discourse, or of senseless rhapsody:" Guy & F. on For. Med. (5th ed.) 180; Ray's Med. Jur. 346. The former authors say: "In fatal cases, delirium usually passes into coma, but occasionally it disappears some hours before death, leaving the patient in the full possession of his faculties. In some cases the memory of things long past

revives, and languages that had long fallen into disuse are again spoken with fluency. Delirium is an almost constant symptom of poisoning by belladonna, hyoscyamus and stramonium; a frequent result of poisoning by other narcotic acrids; an occasional one in poisoning by pure narcotics and irritants."

§ 38. Legal relations of delirium.

It will be manifest that the subject of delirium would not be competent to do any civil acts, nor responsible criminally for any act done or committed during an access of delirium. The general rule here prevails, which, as we have noticed, governs in other cases of unsoundness of mind, or where the entire soundness of the mind of ` a testator is questionable, namely: that the Will of the party will usually be sustained where the provisions are reasonable and consistent, and in harmony with the desires expressed by the testator when mental soundness was unquestioned, when it would not be if it were otherwise. Wills and other instruments executed during lucid intervals would not be affected by a return of delirium. But it has been suggested that it

is important to distinguish delirium, with intervals of perfect consciousness, from the calmness of demeanor sometimes assumed by patients laboring under strange delusions, showing themselves in the first stage of convalescence from fever or other acute disease: Id. But actual delirium at the time of the execution of a contract or Will invalidates it: Dew v. Clark, 3 Add. Eccl. (Eng.) 79; Johnson v. Moore, 1 Litt. (Ky.) 371. See also Contracts, vol. 2, Field's L. B., § 80; Wills, vol. 5, Field's Lawyers' Briefs,

727.

§ 39. Delirium tremens, or mania a potu.

This is a form of mental disorder incident to habits of intemperate drinking, which generally appears as a sequel to a few days' abstinence from stimulating drink. But abstinence, as a cause, is not a settled question; and in various cases where the abstinence was apparently voluntary there is reason to suppose that it was, in fact, the incubation of the disease, and not its cause: See Beck's Med. Jur. (10th ed.) 807; Ray's Med. Jur. 520; Guy & F. on Forensic Med. (5th ed.) 181; Criminal Law, vol. 2,