In the East Indies, the terms mean, in a medical sense, a species of palsy, in which, according to Bontius, patients seem to imitate sheep in lifting their legs when they walk. This palsy consists in a partial deprivation of the motion and sensation of the hands and feet, and sometimes of the body. Sauvages defines it under the order of clonic spasms: In walking, a retraction of the knee, with tremor; a sense of crawling, or tingling, and hoarseness, common in the Indies.' Linnaeus describes it as 'a tremor of the parts, contracture of the knees, i. e. continual chronic agitation of the parts without a sensation of coldness, stupor, and hoarseness.' Sagar adds to the definition of Sauvages, ' painful stupor of the limbs.' He once saw some sheep, observing a wolf, seized with this spasmodic affection; and that they, whether standing still or walking, momentaneously retracted their knees, which immediately returned to their natural situation, Dr. Aitkin makes it synonymous with contracture, which see. The cause is generally thought to be exposure to the cold vapours of the night too soon after exercise.

The cause of this disease is whatever weakens the moving powers, and relaxes the ligaments. Generally its approach is gradual; but sometimes it seizes suddenly.

The symptoms are, an universal lassitude, a faulty motion of the hands and feet, and the same throbbing titillation is felt in them as is felt in the fingers and toes in a cold country in the winter season, only the pain is not so great: sometimes the voice is so obstructed as to render articulation difficult. The disease is not mortal, except by seizing the muscles of the breast, so as to obstruct respiration and the voice.

In the cure, moderate exercise and frictions are useful: the Indians use a semicupium made of water, in which is boiled an aromatic herb called lagondi, or, in want of it, camomile and melilot. The affected parts are rubbed well with a mixture of the oils of mace and roses. Bleeding is not required; but, on the contrary, warm nervous strengthening restoratives are to be used, with an occasional gentle purge. Decoctions of sarsa-parilla and guaiacum are also of service. See Bontius De Medicina. Indorum.