!EPILEPSY Epilepsy is a a violent nervous affection, manifesting itself usually in sudden convulsive seizures and unconsciousness, followed by temporary stoppage of the breath and rigidity of the body, popularly known as "falling sickness". Origin of the disease is yet undecided, however, attributed by the ancients to demoniacal possession, and by the modern doctors to a sudden, usually brief, excessive electrical discharges in a group of brain cells (neurones). This chronic disorder is also characterized by recurrent seizures, which may vary from a brief lapse of attention or muscle jerks, to severe and prolonged convulsions. In most cases, epilepsy can be successfully treated with anti-epileptic drugs.