In the nineteenth century, concern about alcoholism was widespread in the United States. The history of alcoholism — in America or elsewhere — has a much longer history, but the nineteenth century, with the explosion of cheap print materials and faster methods of communication, had generous possibilities for public discussion and sensationalism.
James Root’s 1840s “memoir” The Horrors of Delirium Tremens probably fits most comfortably in the “sensationalism” category.
Root, signing himself “The Author” although he is identified by name on title and copyright page, claims that the story he is about to tell is true:
Although the papers of the day frequently contain startling accounts of one after another who fall victims to that disease, which is denominated Delirium Tremens, yet, it is not understood by the public, for there has been no one who has himself suffered so far as to be able to give a full description of this terrrible scourge…The writer will make no apology to the public for giving a full description of the horrible scenes through which he has passed… (i, vi)
Root frequently mentions the “painful experiences” through which he has gone in the introduction and the first chapter makes fairly clear that he intends telling his own story. While stories of sufferers from the DTs commonly mention seeing dancing elephants, pink rabbits, singing pairs of boots, or other Disney-like oddities, Root concentrates almost entirely on religious phenomena. He puts this down to his youthful deism, telling detailed story of his attack by demons and being followed by “the devil who said he had no master” who tries to keep him from reading the Bible or praying.
Root’s narrative may be of interest not only to those studying the history of addiction, but also to those with an interest in occult phenomena as Root spends a great deal of time discussing the “demonic” nature of his episodes, likening them to the stories of possession in the Bible.
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