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avitaminosis caused by lack of thiamine (vitamin B1)

avitaminosis caused by lack of thiamine (vitamin B1)

A disease caused by a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) and characterized by polyneuritis, cardiac pathology, and edema. The epidemic form is found primarily in areas in which white (polished) rice is the staple food, as in Japan, China, the Philippines, India, and other countries of southeast Asia. (Dorland, 27th ed)

Kakke, endemic neuritis; a specific polyneuritis, occurring in endemic form in eastern and southern Asia, and sporadically in other tropical and mild temperate regions; it prevails especially in armies, prisons, ships, and wherever large numbers of men are kept together. There is stiffness of the muscles with atrophy, neuritic pains, and paresis. Dyspnea is frequent and in certain forms, called wet b., edema is a prominent symptom. Beriberi is a deficiency disease due to a lack of vitamines in the diet; in the far East it is largely due to the almost exclusive use of polished rice.

Endemic Asiatic disease, with dyspnea, anemia and paralysis.

ber'i-ber-i, n. an Eastern disease marked by anæmia, paralysis, and dropsical symptoms. [Singh.]

From beri in the Singhalese language, which signifies 'weakness;' therefore, beriberi, 'great weakness.' This word is also said to be Hindusthanee, and to mean a sheep.-Bontius. Beriberi is an Indian disease, little known in Europe. It consists in debility and tremors of the limbs,-sometimes, indeed, of the whole body; with painful numbness of the affected parts, &c.:-the patient walking doubled, and imitating the movements of sheep! Some authors have esteemed it rheumatic; others, paralytic; others, to be a kind of chorea. It is, almost always, incurable; is rarely fatal; and is treated by exercise, stimulant friction, sudorifics, &c. It is sometimes called Bar'biers, but this would seem to be a different disease.

Disease like dropsy prevalent in India.

An endemic and infective form of polyneuritis, chiefly seen in Japan and India.

A form of multiple neuritis endemic in many tropical and subtropical countries, notably China. It may appear in large epidemics and is characterized by motor and sensory paralysis and anasarca. It is probably caused by eating polished rice.