a. and sb. [irreg. f. L. tābēs, tābi-, on false analogy of words etymologically in -etic, as diabetic.] A. adj. Or, pertaining to, or affected with tabes or emaciation.
1847. Webster, Tabetic, tabid, affected with tabes.
1897. J. Hutchinson, in Arch. Surg., VIII. No. 31. 232. The patient … has no bladder symptoms, nor any characteristic tabetic pains.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VII. 100. I have met with cases which began with tabelic symptoms and ended in general paralysis.
B. sb. One who suffers from tabes.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VI. 808. [He] has found the labyrinth and auditory nerve normal in tabetics with defective hearing. Ibid., VII. 110. Tabetics, who did not show Romberg’s sign.
