Paralysis

(pa-ral'e-sis,) or PALSY. [From Gr.paralyo, I relax.] (Med.) A nervous disease, known by the lo or defect of the power of voluntary muscular motion in the whole body, or in a particular part. It appears under different forms; and may be a lo of the power of motion without a lo of sensation, or a lo of both. Sometimes it attacks the whole system; at others,it affects one side of the body, when it is called hemiplegia; and at others only a single member. It frequently produces a distortion of the mouth, an indistinct ne of speech, and an impaired intellect. A paralysis of any of the vital organs is attended with immediate death. [s. 684]