A form of noisy breathing, similar to SNORING, and usually due to flapping of the soft PALATE. It results from paralysis of the soft palate: this may be due to a stroke, suffocation, concussion, drunkenness, or poisoning by OPIUM or chloroform. In severe cases of paralysis, the tongue may loll back against the back of the throat, resulting in a very loud sound. In such cases breathing may be rapidly relieved by pulling the lower jaw forwards, pulling the tongue out of the mouth, or turning the person onto one side.