Sentence:  <WSD>"Procatarctic</WSD> cause", called also "primitive" and "incipient cause", is either an occasion which of its own nature does not beget a disease, but, happening on a body inclined to diseases, breeds a fever, gout &c. (such as are watching, fasting, and the like); or an evident and manifest cause, which immediately produces the disease, as being sufficient thereto, such as is a sword in respect to a wound. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Descriptive of an existing condition or state that caused, predisposed for or excited a present condition.