• (n.) The kindling of a disease into action; also, the procatarctic cause.
Pro`cat·arx'is noun [ New Latin , from Greek ... first beginning.] (Medicine) The kindling of a disease into action; also, the procatarctic cause. Quincy. 
Type: Term Pronunciation: prō′kă-tark′sis Definitions: 1. The beginning of a disease under the influence of the exciting cause, a predisposing cause already existing. Synonyms: exciting cause