APOPLEXY, in Medicine, a sudden Privation of all the Senses, and all the sensible Motions of the Body, excepting that of the Heart and Lungs; attended with a great Depravation of the principal Faculties of the Soul. See SENSATION, MOTION, etc.
It differs from a Carus, a Lethargy, and a Coma, in regard that in these three Disorders, the Stupor is not so profound, nor all Sensation quite destroyed. See CARUS, LETHARGY, and COMA.
It differs from a Syncope, in that there is no sensible Pulse in this last; whereas in an Apoplexy, the Pulse is perceptible almost till Death. See SYNCOPE.
It differs from an Epilepsy, in regard all Motion is not abolished in that as in this; and it differs from the Palsy, inasmuch as the Palsy is not attended with any Stupor, nor does it deprive the Patient of Sense and Perception. See EPILEPSY and PALSY.
The Apoplexy may be occasioned by an Interruption of the Passage of the Blood towards the Brain; or by anything that hinders the Influx of the animal Spirits into the Organs of Sense, and the Parts of voluntary Motion: Sometimes it is owing to an abundance of Phlegm, and sometimes to a viscid Pituita, wherewith the Brain is oppressed; as is observable in Winter apoplexies, and in those of old People. It sometimes also comes from too gross a Lympha, which stops up the Nerves; or a Plethora, which oppresses them; or Excrescences inside the Cranium, pressing the Vessels; or a Polypus, blocking up the Carotids, etc. See BRAIN.
In dissecting Persons dead hereof, clotted extravasated Blood is usually found in one or both Ventricles of the Brain. See Philosophical Transactions, No. 173, 313, etc. Hippocrates distinguishes two kinds of Apoplexies, one strong, the other weak; only differing in the greater or less Difficulty of Respiration.
The more modern Authors distinguish apoplexies, from their Cause, into Sanguineous and Pituitous; to which may be added Lymphatic, Polypous, etc.
The Fit is usually preceded by a violent Pain in the Head, Dimness and Loss of Sight or Memory: Sometimes by a universal Indolence; and sometimes by a Flux of pituitous Matter by the Nose and Mouth.
It is attended with a snoring and difficulty of breathing; sometimes with a Fever, rarely with a foaming at the Mouth, frequently with a Sweat, Hemorrhoids, or Diarrhea; and so goes off.
To prevent an Apoplexy, Wine and hard Labour are to be avoided; no eating to excess; nor sleeping after Dinner.
Exercise to be kept up, and Care and Chagrin to be kept under. To cure an Apoplexy, Medicines must be used that occasion large Evacuations; and nothing of opiate or astringent meddled withal—During the Fit, copious bleeding in the Jugulars to be used, and the Patient laid on his back; applying strong Volatiles to the Nose; use strong Sternutatories, and rub the Temples with Cephalic Mixtures.
A hot Iron may also be applied near the Vertex or Occiput; an Epispastic to the Neck; to which are to be added powerful Purgatives, Clysters, etc.
Cupping and Scarrification on the Head, are commended by some in lieu of Venesection. The Disease sometimes degenerates into a Paralysis—Sometimes only half the Head is affected; in which Case the Disease is called Hemiplegia. See HEMIPLEGIA, etc.
The Word Apoplexy, comes from the Greek ἀποπλήσσειν (apoplēssein), to strike or astonish; this Disorder striking suddenly, and, as it were, like a Thunder-bolt.
Apoplectic Water, aqua Apoplectica. See WATER.
