[ad. F. tétanie intermittent tetanus, f. prec.] A tetanoid affection characterized by intermittent muscular spasms. Also attrib.
1890. Billings, Nat. Med. Dict., Tetany,… a succession of tonic muscular spasms, mostly symmetrical, following one another at irregular intervals.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 47. Tetany is an affection characterised by tonic muscular spasms involving especially the distal portion of the limbs. Ibid., 48. The tetany spasms ceased the day after a tape-worm had been expelled.
