The onset of delirium tremens, first described by Thomas Sutton in 1813, is characterized by states of anxiety, fear, insomnia with disturbing dreams, sensory excitement, hyperesthesias, flashes of light, etc. The development usually is sudden, with a loss of attention, disturbance of apprehension, restlessness, distractibility, numerous hallucinations of the different senses, illusions, clouded states with disorientation, tremors and ataxia. Touch, pain and temperature sensations, according to Kraepelin, are undisturbed. The field of vision is sometimes narrowed. Recognition of colors is uncertain. There is a marked disturbance of the equilibrium, suggesting some lesion either of the eye muscles or of the labyrinth. A decided lengthening of the reaction time in associations has been shown by various observers. Sensory hallucinations are common. The ability to read correctly is entirely lost and what is read is meaningless. A paraphasic form of reading has been described by Bonhöffer. The attention cannot be held for any length of time. A dreamy clouded state is characteristic. Disorientation is usually complete in the severe cases. The hallucinations and illusions are very marked and sometimes even suggest moving pictures to the patient. Hallucinations of vision are more common than those of hearing. Peculiar skin sensations such as feelings of electricity are spoken of. Hallucinations may be induced by pressure on the eyeball and sometimes by suggestion. There is occasionally a confusional form of speech suggesting dementia praecox, with a tendency to coin new words and employ entirely meaningless terms. Although consciousness is not always entirely clouded, events transpire as in a dream, always confused by innumerable hallucinations. An occupation delirium is common, the patient imagining himself busy at his customary work. Delusional ideas regarding everything in his surroundings are frequent. Ideas of grandeur sometimes occur. Never, according to Bonhöffer, is there a complete disorientation as far as personality is concerned. The patient always knows who and what he is. Complete mental confusion is not the rule. Distractibility is usually very well developed. Bonhöffer found an inability to supply omitted words and syllables from well known phrases and memory for test words and numbers was impaired. Articles read are repeated with many changes and omissions. Memory for remote events is usually well preserved. Sometimes there is a falsification of the past. The mood is anxious, fearful, seldom irritable, at times actually humorous. Cheerfulness and fear of death occasionally alternate.