The nineteenth century concept of ‘disorder of motility’ is one of the most difficult to grasp from the perspective of today. This tells much about the role of ideology and metaphor in descriptive psychopathology. For what might have in common clinical states as diverse as stupor, akinesia, catalepsy, psychomotor retardation, agitation, impulsions, bradyphrenia, parkinsonism, dyskinesias, akathisia, grimacing, mannerisms, posturing, stereotypes, soft neurological signs, tremors and tics except, perhaps, the fact that they all refer in a general way to human movement? Confronted with such a list, the neurologist of today might respond as he would to a medieval bestiary, i.e. with amused disbelief.

Catoche or Catalepsis in Greeke … The newe wryters in phisick do call it Congelatio, in English it maie be called Congelation or taking. It is a sodaine detention & taking both of mind and body, both sense and moving being lost, the sicke remaining in the same figure of bodie wherin he was taken, whither he sit or lye, or stand, or whither his eyes be open or shut. This disease is a meane betwene the lethargic and the frenesy, for it cometh of a melancholy humour for the most parte, as shalbe declared afterward … […]