Estimated Time: 5 minutes

The captain meets his fate, struck down by apoplexy. But what exactly is apoplexy?

Apoplexy is an old-fashioned term that people used to describe what happens when someone suddenly falls unconscious or loses the ability to move, often because of something happening in their brain. Today, we might call this a stroke. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. It can cause serious health problems and even be life-threatening.

In the times of pirates and sea adventures, like in "Treasure Island," medical knowledge wasn't as advanced as it is today. People didn't understand strokes as well as we do now, so "apoplexy" was a term that covered a variety of sudden, mysterious illnesses where someone might collapse or be unable to move.

Now, let's learn more about strokes.