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Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: CLI-COM |
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COMA (Gr. K(.7) a, from Koc.av, to put to sleep), a deep sleep; the term is, however, used in medicine
forms the patient can be partially roused only to relapse again into a state of insensibility; in the deeper states, the patient cannot be roused at all, and such are met with in apoplexy, already described. Coma may arise abruptly in a patient who has presented no pre-existent indication of such a state occurring. Such a condition is called primary coma, and may result from the following causes: (1) concussion, compression or laceration of the brain from head injuries, especially fracture of the skull; (2) from alcoholic and narcotic poisoning; (3) from cerebral haemorrhage , embolism and thrombosis, such being the causes of apoplexy. Secondary coma may arise as a complication in the following diseases:diabetes, uraemia, general paralysis, meningitis, cerebral tumour and acute yellow atrophy of the liver ; in such diseases it is anticipated, for it is a frequent cause of the fatal termination. The depth of insensibility to stimulus is a measure of the gravity of the symptom; thus the conjunctival reflex and even the spinal reflexes may be abolished, the only sign of life being the respiration and heart-beat, the muscles of the limbs being sometimes perfectly flaccid. A characteristic change in the respiration, known as Cheyne
condition of apnoea , or cessation of breathing, follows, and as soon as the venosity of the blood again affords sufficient stimulus, the signs of air-hunger commence; this altered rhythm continues until the respiratory centre becomes exhausted and death ensues.Coma Vigil is a state of unconsciousness met with in the algide stage of cholera and some other exhausting diseases. The patient's eyes remain open, and he may be in a state of low muttering delirium; he is entirely insensible to his surroundings, and neither knows nor can indicate his wants. There is a distinct word " coma " (Gr. Om, hair ), which is used in astronomy for the envelope of a comet, and in botany for a tuft.End of Article: COMA (Gr. K(.7) If you wish, you can link directly to this article.
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