DEMENTIA

(Lat.), n. f. De(da)-me2n's hi2(ti2)-a3. Gr., avoia, irapdvoia. Fr.. demence, aphrenie. Ger., Blodsinn. It., demenza. Sp., demencia. Formerly a term applied to many different mental diseases and often used as synonymous with insanity. In medical jurisprudence it is still common in some countries to include all mental diseases under this head, but since the time of Esquirol the term d. in psychology has had the following meaning: A cerebral affection ordinarily chronic and without fever, characterized by enfeeblement of the intellect and the will, incoherence of ideas, and lack of intelligence and volition. [Foville fils (o, 18).] Active d. Fr., demence active. Ger., activer Wahnsinn. A sequel of mania and of agitated melancholia, progre ive in character, and marked by restle ne , talkativene , and purposele violence or destructivene . Its subjects are weak, silly, and childish. [D. 36.] Acute d. See DEMENCE aigue. Agitated d. See Active d Alcoholic d. Fr., demence alcool i que. D. occurring in the terminal period of chronic alcoholism. It is usually preceded by a rather long period in which there is an obscuration and depre ion of the intelligence, with lo of memory, melancholic preoccupation, abolition of moral sentiments, apathy, sensorial illusions, hallucinations, and alternate periods of agitation and of stupor. The final stage differs little from that of other chronic forms of d. [L, 88 (a, 18).] Apathetic d. Fr., demence a path i que. Ger., a path is cher Blodsinn. A mental state in which all psychic life is reduced to a minimum. The memory is almost completely lost. Sensibility is diminished both to pain and to temperature. This form often constitutes the terminal period of the disease in which active d. has been present. [a, 18.] Catatonic d. Fr.. demence cat at on i que. Ger., kat at on is cher Verriicktheit. A form of d. inclining strongly toward amentia, and bearing a catatonic character. [L. 57(a, 18).] Chronic d. D. of considerable duration. It includes the ordinary forms. Chronic primary d. A primary d. distinguished from the acute form by its slower and more gradual course and by its unfavorable prognosis. Its first and most prominent symptom is lo of memory, [a, 18.] Complete d., Confirmed d. D. so advanced that patients suffering from it can not even tell their own names. [D, 43.] Degenerate d. A modification of acute d. in which acute symptoms are still present. Fluctuating lucidity, a tendency to resistle impulses, polymorphous changes of mood and temper based upon moral degeneration, with characteristic hysterical, convulsive attacks, mark this condition. |a, 18.] D. accidental is, D. adventitia. Acquired d.; in English law, "general insanity which occurs in those who have at some time exercised reasoning powers." [D, 38.] D. apathetic a, D. a pathic a. See Apathetic d. D. apoplectic a. Alteration and diminution of the mental faculties due to cerebral lesions, such as haemorrhage, softening, or tumors; typical in most cases of softening of the Drain. [L, 87 (o, 18).] D. choreic a. Fr., demence choreique. D. occurring in the graver and prolonged forms of chorea, [a, 18.] D. congenita, D. natural is. Natural or congenital d.; in English law, idiocy. [D, 38.] D. paralytic a. Fr.. demence paralytique. The d. of general paresis of the insane, fa, 18.] D. paranoic a. D. accompanied by paranoia, with paralogia and delirious conceptions. [L, 57 (a, 18).] D. senilis. See Senile d. Epileptic d. See DEMENCE epileptique. Galloping paretic d. Paretic d. which progre es and terminates very rapidly, on account of maniacal exhaustion or other complications. [D, 36.] Hypochondriac d. Ger., hypochondrischer Blodsinn. D. consequent upon chronic hypochrondriasis. [a,.18.] Idiotic d. Ger., idiot is cher Blodsinn. D. in the idiot, characterized by absence of perception and self-consciousne , speechle ne , and automatic movements, and a condition as if all motor phenomena were of a simple reflex nature, [a, 18.] Incipient d. See Partial d. Organic d. Fr., demence organ i que. D. due to material lesions of the nervous E, he; E2, ell; G, go; I, die; I2, in; N, in; N, tank; [s. 526]