name of acute yellow atrophy of the liver, that organ under goes such rapidly destructive change as results in its shrinking to half, or one-third, of its normal size in the course of a few days. The term progressive muscular atrophy (synonyms, wasting or creeping palsy) is applied to an affection of the muscular system, which is characterised by the atrophy and subsequent paralysis of certain muscles, or groups of muscles, and is associated with morbid changes in the anterior roots of the nerves of the spinal cord. This disease begins insidiously, and is often first observed to affect the muscles of one hand, generally the right. The attention of the sufferer is first attracted by the power of the hand becoming weakened, and then there is found to be a wasting of certain of its muscles, particularly those of the ball of the thumb. Gradually other muscles in the arms and legs become affected in a similar manner, their atrophy being attended with a corresponding diminution in power. Although sometimes arrested, this disease tends to progress, involving additional muscles, until in course of time the greater part of the muscular system is impli cated, and a fatal result ensues. (j. o. A.)
ATROPOS (a priv., and [Greek], to turn), the eldest of the
three Moirai, Parcas, or Fates. Her name, The Unalter
able, indicates the part generally played by her, viz., that of
rendering the decisions of her sisters irreversible or immut
able. This is the function ascribed to her by Plato (JKep.,
x. 620), who also assigns to her supremacy over future
events (617). Ancient authorities, however, are not
unanimous in their distribution of the parts of the three
sisters. Atropos is most frequently represented with scales,
a sun-dial, or a cutting instrument, the " abhorred shears,"
with which she slits the thin-spun thread of life that has
been placed on the spindle by Clotho and drawn off by
Lachesis. See PARCÆ.
ATTACHMENT, in English Law, is a process from a
court of record, awarded by the justices at their discretion,
on a bare suggestion, or on their own knowledge, and is
properly grantable in cases of contempt. It differs from
arrest, in that he who arrests a man carries him to a person
of higher power to be forthwith disposed of ; but he that
attaches keeps the party attached, and presents him in
court at the day assigned, as appears by the words of the
writ. Another difference is, that arrest is only upon the
body of a man, whereas an attachment is often upon his
goods. It is distinguished from distress in not extending
to lands, as the latter does ; nor does a distress touch the
body, as an attachment does. Every court of record has
power to fine and imprison for contempt of its authority.
Attachment being merely a process to bring the defendant
before the court, is not necessary in cases of contempt in
the presence of the court itself. Attachment will be
granted against peers and members of Parliament, only for
such gross contempts as rescues, disobedience to the Queen s
writs, and the like. Attachment will not lie against a
corporation. The County Courts in this respect are regu
lated by the 9 and 10 Viet. c. 95, 113, and the 12 and
13 Viet. c. 101, 2. They can only punish for contempts
committed in presence of the court. (See CONTEMPT OF
COURT.) Attachments are granted on a rule in the first
instance to show cause, which must be personally served
before it can be made absolute, except for non-payment of
costs on a master s allocatur, and against a sheriff for not
obeying a rule to return a writ or to bring in the body.
The offender is then arrested, and when committed will be
compelled to answer interrogatories, exhibited against him
by the party at whose instance the proceedings have been
had ; and the examination when taken is referred to the
master, who reports thereon, and on the contempt being
reported, the court gives iudgment according to its dis
cretion, in the same manner as upon a conviction for a
misdemeanour at common law. Sir W. Blackstone observes
that " this method of making the defendant answer upon
oath to a criminal charge is not agreeable to the genius
of the common law in any other instance," and it may
be added that the elasticity of the legal definitions of
contempt of court, especially with respect to com
ments on judicial proceedings, is the subject of much com
plaint.
Attachment out of Chancery enforced answeis and obedience to decrees and orders of that court, now merged in the High Court of Justice under the Judicature Act, 1873, and was made out without order upon an affi davit of the due service of the process, &c., with whose requirements compliance was sought. A corporation, how ever, is proceeded against by distringas and not by attach ment. It was formerly competent to the plaintiff to compel the appearance of a defendant in Chancery by attachment, but the usual course was to enter appearance for him in case of default. By the proposed rules under the Judicature Act, 1873, a writ of attachment is to have the same force and effect as the old attachment out of Chancery. It is one of the modes of execution allowed for the recovery of property other than land or money.
Attachment of the Forest is the proceeding in the Courts of Attachments, Woodinote, or Forty Days Courts. These courts have now fallen into absolute desuetude. They were held before the verderers of the royal forests in dif ferent parts of the kingdom once in every forty days, for the purpose of inquiring into all offences against " vert and venison." The attachment is by the bodies of the offenders, if taken in the very act of killing venison, or stealing wood, or preparing so to do, or by fresh and immediate pursuit after the act is done ; else they must be attached by their goods. These attachments were received by the verderers and enrolled, and certified under their seals to the Court of Justice seat, or Sweinmote, which formed the two superior of the forest courts.
Attachment, Foreign, is an important custom prevailing in the city of London, whereby a creditor may attach money owing to his debtor, or property belonging to him in the possession of third parties. The person holding the pro perty or owing the money must be within the city at the time of being served with the process, but all persons are entitled to the benefit of the custom. The plaintiff having commenced his action, and made a satisfactory affidavit of his debt, is entitled to issue attachment, which thereupon affects all the money or property of the defendant in the hands of the third party, who in these proceedings is called the garnishee. The garnishee, of course, has as against the attachment all the defences which would be available to him against the defendant, his alleged creditor. The garnishee may plead payment under the attachment, if there has been no fraud or collusion, in bar to an action by the defendant for his debt or property. The court to which this process belongs is the Mayor s Court of London, the procedure in which is regulated by 20 and 21 Viet. c. 157. This custom, and all proceedings relating thereto, are expressly exempted from the operation of the Debtor s Act, 1869. Similar customs exist in Bristol and a few other towns in England, and also in Scotland. See ARREST and ARRESTMENT.
Attachment of Debts.—It was suggested by the common law commissioners in 1853 that a remedy analogous to that of Foreign Attachment might be made available to creditors, after judgment, against debts due to their debtors. Accordingly, the Common Law Procedure Act, 1854, enacted that any creditor, having obtained
judgment in the superior courts, should have an order that
