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Learning About Epilepsy 揭开癫痫的神秘面纱

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Tens of millions of people from all walks of life suffer from epilepsy, a chronic neurological disorder that disrupts the normal pattern of neural activity and results in seizures. The word epilepsy comes from the Greek words epi, meaning “upon,” and lepsis, meaning “seizure.” Together those words imply that a person affected by this condition is seized by some unseen force.

数千万来自各行各业的人士皆患有癫痫。癫痫是种因正常神经活动受到干扰导致病患癫痫发作的慢性神经失调。癫痫epilepsy一字来自希腊文epi与lepsis：epi意指「在……之上」，而lepsis指「抓住，夺取」。这两字合起来的意思则是暗指癫痫病患被某种不明力量所控制。

Though epilepsy is a serious disease, many important historical figures, such as Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte, are believed to have had it. The fact that other notable epileptics such as Jonathan Swift, Vincent van Gogh, and Fyodor Dostoevsky also managed to be accomplished shows that the disease is not nearly as limiting as people once thought. Dostoevsky even described epilepsy as mystic and sublime ecstasy.

虽然癫痫是一种严重疾病，但历史上许多重要人物都被认为曾患有癫痫，如凯萨大帝与拿破仑。其他一些著名的癫痫患者包括强纳森．斯威夫特、文森．梵谷与费奥多尔．杜斯妥也夫斯基，但他们都迭有造诣。这类事实使我们了解到，癫痫并不像大众一般认知会限制一个人的才能。杜斯妥也夫斯基甚至描述癫痫是种神秘且崇高的狂喜。

Epilepsy is actually one of the world’s oldest identified medical disorders and it was long marked by misunderstanding. In Taiwan, epilepsy used to be grounds for annulling a marriage, and in the U.S. those who suffered from it were not allowed to enter public places until 1970. But today we know much more about the condition. It is often related to brain damage or trauma during birth, and it could even be inherited. We also know that seizures, which can cause unconsciousness, are the result of a sudden electrical discharge in a group of brain cells.

事实上，癫痫是世上最早被发现的古老疾病之一，且长期以来被人们所误解。在台湾，癫痫曾被作为解除婚约的理由。在美国，癫痫病患一直到了1970年才能出入公共场所。但今日我们对这种疾病有了更多认识。它与脑部受伤、生产时受到创伤与遗传有关。我们也了解到使病患失去意识的癫痫发作是因一组脑神经细胞突然放电所造成。

Luckily, anywhere from 70 to 80 percent of epileptics can be successfully treated through modern medicine or surgery. Though it affects 50 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, and two hundred thousand people in Taiwan, it is a highly treatable condition that should be met with understanding.

幸运的是，百分之七十到八十的癫痫患者可透过现代医学和外科手术而获得痊愈。虽然根据世界卫生组织统计全球有5千万名癫痫患者，而台湾则占了20万人，但癫痫的治愈率极高，且是个应该为大家所认识的疾病。

－by Joe Henley

Vocabulary

单词发音

walk of life 行业; 身份; 阶层 an occupation, profession, or social class

suffer [ˋsʌfɚ] v. 遭受；经历

chronic [ˋkrɑnɪk] adj.〔疾病〕慢性的﹐长期的

disorder [dɪsˋɔrdɚ] n.（身心机能的）失调

disrupt [dɪsˋrʌpt] v. 扰乱; 使混乱

imply [ɪmˋplaɪ] v. 暗示；意味着

affect [əˋfɛkt] v. 影响；对……发生作用

mystic [ˋmɪstɪk] adj. 神秘的

misunderstanding [ˋmɪsʌndɚˋstændɪŋ] n. 误解﹐误会

ground [graʊnd] n. 理由 the foundation for an argument, a belief, or an action; a basis

inherit [ɪnˋhɛrɪt] v. 经遗传而获得（性格，特征等）

unconsciousness [ʌnˋkɑnʃəsnɪs] n. 无意识

More Information

单词发音

epilepsy [ˋɛpəlɛpsɪ] n. 癫痫

neurological [͵njʊrəˋlɑdʒɪkəl] adj. 神经学的；神经病学的

neural [ˋnjʊrəl] adj. 神经的; 神经系统的

seizure [ˋsiʒɚ] n.（病的）发作

epileptic [͵ɛpəˋlɛptɪk] n. 癫痫症患者

accomplished [əˋkɑmplɪʃt] adj. 有才华的; 有（艺术）造诣的 skilled; expert

sublime [səˋblaɪm] adj. 崇高的

ecstasy [ˋɛkstəsɪ] n. 狂喜; 欣喜若狂

annul [əˋnʌl] v. 废除，取消

trauma [ˋtrɔmə] n. 外伤,损伤; （感情等方面的）创伤

anywhere [ˋɛnɪ͵hwɛr] adv.【口】在任何程度上; （指某个范围内）任何一点上 to any extent or degree; at all

Reading Questions

1.   What does the meaning of the word “epilepsy” imply?

A.  The disease is often unseen by doctors.

B.  The disease forces the sufferer to act strangely.     

C.  It is a condition which will never be cured.

D.  People with it are controlled by something unknown.

2.   Which of the following about epilepsy is NOT true?

A.  Julius Caesar and Napoleon may have had it.

B.  It changes the way the brain usually works.

C.  Swift and Van Gough could not accomplish much because of it.

D.  Dostoevsky described the disease in a positive manner.

3.   What is another possible ending to this article?

A.  It is certain that epilepsy will not be cured by doctors in the near future.

B.  With proper treatment, people with the disease can live normal lives.

C.  In other words, there is little hope for people with the disease.

D.  Thankfully, the effects of epilepsy can usually be ignored by most patients.

Understanding Epilepsy (Epilepsy #1)

Types of Seizures (Epilepsy #2)

What Causes Epilepsy? (Epilepsy #5)

Answer