Pro′cat‐arc″tic (?), a. [Gr. � beginning beforehand. fr. � to begin first; � before + � to begin; � intens. + � to begin: cf. F. procatarctique.] (Med.) Beginning; predisposing; exciting; initial.
☞ The words procatarctic causes have been used with different significations. Thus they have been employed synonymously with prime causes, exciting causes, and predisposing or remote causes.
The physician inquires into the procatarctic causes. Harvey.