PARALYSIS

(Lat.), n. f. Paar(pasr)-a2l(a3l)'i2s(us)-iils. Gen., -ys'eos (-al'ysis). Gr., irapdAuo-is (from n-apaAver, to loose from the side). Fr., paralysie. Ger., Ldhmung. Paralysie. It., paralisia. Sp., pardlisis. The suspension or abolition of a functional power, especially in the nervous system, in which case there is a temporary or permanent lo of the power of motion or of sensation, or of both, in the parts supplied by the affected nerves. [D.] Acute anterior spinal p. of adults. See under Spinal p. in the adult. Acute ascending (spinal) p. A progre ive motor p.; a disease affecting men more frequently than women, and following severe exposure to cold or some infectious or febrile disease. Paresis of the legs appears first, and is followed by complete p. with muscular relaxation. Similar conditions supervene in the muscles of the pelvis, loins, abdomen, thorax, upper extremities, diaphragm, and neck. Speech is affected, and there are dyspnoea, dysphagia, and sensory disturbances. Cutaneous reflex action and muscular irritability are lost and remain lost until death or until all paralytic symptoms have disappeared. There is neither muscular atrophy nor change in electrical irritability. The cerebral functions are not usually involved. There is but little if any elevation of temperature. The disease may terminate fatally in a few days, in consequence of respiratory or cardiac p., or may continue for several months. Changes in the central or peripheral nervous systems are slight, if indeed any have been discovered. An enlargement of the spleen, the mesenteric glands, and the closed follicles of the intestines suggests a toxsemic origin of the disease, which A, ape; A*, at; A3, ah; A, all; Ch, chin; Ch, loch (Scottish); [s. 210]