Epilepsy

(ep/ -il-ep-se). A nervous affection characterized by sudden lo of consciousne and power of coordination of motion with tonic and clonic convulsions, the paroxysms lasting but a short time. This form of the disease is the true " affection, the haut mal or grand mal of the French. The petit mal. The so-called epileptiform seizure is a localized convulsion without lo of consciousne . See Epilepsy, Jackson i an. An epileptic seizure is often introduced by an aura, a peculiar sensation preceding the spasmodic seizure, which is quickly followed by the characteristic epileptic cry. The origin of the epileptic attack is in all probability a powerful discharge of energy from the cortical cerebral cells. The disease is most common in females, and is influenced by heredity and age; it is rare for it to occur after forty years of age. Traumatism and severe mental strain may act as exciting causes. E., Accelerative, Epilepsia cursiva; epilepsy in which the patient runs before falling down in a fit. E., Acute Infantile, a name given to the eclampsia of infants. E., Cardiac, paroxysmal tachycardia. E., Cortical. See E., Jackson i an. E., Focal. See E., Jackson i an. E., Jackson i an, spasmodic contractions in certain groups of muscles due to local disease of the cortex, always confined to one-half of the body and with retention -of consciousne . EM Masked, E. larvata, the le severe form of true epilepsy, in which the patient does not fall. E., Partial, A'., Jackson i an, q. v. E., Peripheral. Same as E., Jackson i an. E., Pleural. See Pleural . E., Pro cursive, there is propulsion of the body in some special direction. E., Reflex, due to some -ilex neurosis. E. of the Retina, a temporary anemia of the retina occasionally observed during an epileptiform seizure. E., Saturnine, epileptiform convulsions due to lead-poisoning. E., Sensory, Thalamic epilepsy; a form of epilepsy in which sensory disturbances predominate; it is believed to be due to a lesion of the optic thalamus. E., Spinal, paroxysms of clonic spasm in the lower extremities sometimes observed in the course of spastic paraplegia. E., Symptomatic. See E., Jackson i an. E., Thalamic. See Sensory . E., Toxic, that induced by toxic substances in the blood.