CHOREA

(Gr. \opot, a chorus; the ancient accompaniment to dancing.) The disease commonly called St. Vitus's dance. It shows itself by convulsive motions of the limbs, face, head, and trunk, varying extremely in extent and violence; the speech is often more or le affected, and frequently the mental energies become grievously impaired.Itis most common in early life, as from the age often or twelve to puberty; and makes its approach gradually in persons chiefly of debilitated constitutions: the appetite is generally ravenous at first, and the bowels costive;various convulsive motions then ensue, and only cease during sleep, which, however, is seldom sound. This is one of those diseases which require especial attention in its early stages, and which even in its slightest forms, when •oca habitual, is very difficult to manage. Tiie leading treatment consists in the judicious administration of aperients and brisk purges, so as to clear the stomach and bowels thoroughly of all irritating matters; the constitution may at the same time be strengthened by tonics and chalybeates, with occasional stimulants; and some of the more urgent spasmodic symptoms may be sometimes cautiously encountered by opium, camphor, henbane, and ether. Cold bathing also has Us advantages when circumspectly resorted to; and the mind must be diverted by change of air and scene. This die; should be very regular, nutritive, and never in exce . In tills BOSt plaint much will depend upon the exertions of the patient himself, who, though relieved of the more urgent symptoms, will often retain relics of his disorder through a long life. [s. 243]