EPILEPSY

term applied to a nervous affection, characterised by sudden spasmodic attacks of unconsciousne usually accompanied by convulsions, there being three varieties; grand mal, petit mal, and Jackson i an epilepsy. About a quarter of the cases begin before the age of 10 years, and about three-quarters between the ages of 10 and 20. Children in whose families there are histories of nervous disorders, insanity, alcoholism, etc., are especially liable to be affected, and the exciting causes include practically any cause of undue nervous irritation. In grand mal there are two stages, the first termed the aura, a peculiar, feeling,taking different forms, experienced by the individual previous to an attack, and warning him that it is coming on, while at the second stage a piercing and characteristic cry is uttered and the person fails down suddenly unconscious. The head is turned to one side, the face first pale and then livid, the pupils dilated. Later, about half a minute afterwards, convulsions come on, the tongue may be bitten, the face is purple, with the eyes protruding, and the breathing difficult. The convulsions usually pa off after a few minutes, the person becomes comatose’ and then falls asleep naturally. In petit mal there is usually sudden unconsciousne , but there may be only slight giddine and there are no convulsions. After an attack, however, the mind may be somewhat affected for a time, and the person may perform actions—even criminal actions have been known—of which he is afterwards unconscious. E. must be distinguished from hysteria, from convulsions in uraemia, and from unconsciousne due to apoplexy, drunkenne , etc, | j j