Apoplexy: A seizure
caused by a cerebrovascular accident. A stroke,
as if struck by
the gods. A sudden paralysis. |
Bilious
fever: An excessive amount of
bile in the system with a fever.
Typhoid was occasionally called
"bilious fever" in eighteenth
century Europe, and yellow fever
was called "autumnal bilious fever"
in 1668 New
York. |
| Brain
fever: Meningitis or
encephalitis. |
Cholera: An acute,
infectious disease characterized by profuse
diarrhea, vomiting,
and cramps. Cholera is spread by
feces-contaminated water and
food. Major epidemics struck the
United States in the years 1832,
1849, and 1866. The last major
epidemic in the U.S. east was
1866. |
| Congestive
Fever: Malaria. |
| Congestive
Chill: Cold, shivering, can lead
to pneumonia. |
Consumption (phthisis
pulmonalia, pulmonary tuberculosis): Tuberculosis.
The term
"Consumption" was commonly used in the days when there
was no
effective treatment of the disease. Here the body was
consumed or
gradually wasted away. |
| Cramp
Colic:
Appendicitis. |
Croup: An obstructive
condition of the larynx (voice box) or
trachea (windpipe),
characterized by a hoarse, barking cough and
difficult breathing
occurring chiefly in infants and children.
In the early
nineteenth century it was called cynanche trachealis.
Synonyms:
roup, hives, choak, stuffing, rising of the lights. |
Dropsy (a contraction for
hydropsy): Disease causing fluids
in the serous cavities.
Referred to a swelling, whether general
or localized. The
presence
of abnormally large amounts of fluid. Congestive heart
failure. |
Dysentery: Infectious
disease marked by inflammation and
ulceration of the lower part
of the bowels and diarrhea. |
Enteritis: Inflammation
of the intestines, or could also take the
form of enteric fever
(typhoid). |
| Mania:
Insanity. |
| Palsy: Paralysis or loss
of muscle control. |
| Pneumonia: Inflammation
of the lungs. A major killer. |
Quinsy,
Quinzy: A "peritonsillar
abscess," or an abscess
behind the tonsil. Can be
fatal. |
Typhoid (typhoid fever):
Often caused by unsanitary water conditions
and contaminated
food or milk. Flies could carry the disease and
contaminate food
supplies. It was more common in swampy areas where
shallow wells
could become contaminated. |
Whooping
Cough: A a highly contagious
disease of the
respiratory system, usually affecting children,
that is
characterized in its advanced stage by spasms of
coughing
interspersed with deep, noisy
inspirations. |
