In medical jurisprudence. A sudden and severe depression of the vltal functions, particularly of the nerves and the circulation, due to the nervous exhaustion following trauma, surgical operatlon, or sud-den and violent emotion, resulting (if not in death) in more or less prolonged prostration; it is spoken of as being either physical or psychical, accordlng as it is caused by dis-turbance of the bodily powers and functions or of the mind. See Maynard v. oregon R. Co., 43 or. 63, 72 Pac. 590
Source: Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)
