ETYM Singhalese beri weakness.
Disease of the nervous system caused by lack of thiamine (vitamin B1).
Eastern disease, similar to peripheral neuritis, due to deficiency of vitamin B 1.
Nutritional disorder occurring mostly in the tropics and resulting from a deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine). The disease takes two forms: in one edema (waterlogging of the tissues) occurs; in the other there is severe emaciation. There is nerve degeneration in both forms and many victims succumb to heart failure.