PERIOD, in Medicine, is applied to certain diseases which have intervals, and returns, to denote an entire course
Periodic
Peripatetic.
course or circle of such disease; or its progress from any state through all the rest till it return to the same again.
Galen describes period as a time composed of an intention and remission; whence it is usually divided into two parts, the paroxysm or exacerbation, and remission.
In intermitting fevers, the periods are usually stated and regular; in other diseases, as the epilepsy, gout, &c. they are vague or irregular.