SOME MEDICAL TERMS FOUND IN OLD RECORDS
Frequently, in mortality records, there are causes of death listed in terms that we are not familiar with today. The following are some, if not most of the terms used frequently.
Addison's Disease
Anemic condition caused by kidney disease
Apoplexy-
Stroke. This term dates back to the time of Hippocrates.
Bright's Disease
A form of kidney disease, covering many of the terms in use today. In its acute form, it is called nephritis.
Carditis (myocarditis)
Inflammation of the heart wall; also covers many of the terms used today in reference to the heart.
Catarrh (catarrhal bronchitis)
Inflammatory affection of a mucous membrane, especially the nose and air passages. This term was widely used in period advertisements for cold remedies.
Chorea (St. Vitus' Dance)
Used to identify any nervous disorder. [Term still used in veterinary medicine
Consumption (phthisis pulmonalia)
Tuberculosis. "Consumption" was commonly used in the days when there was no effective treatment of the disease which was characterized by a gradual wasting away of the body.
Diphtheria
An infectious disease which could be spread by infected milk, it occurred mostly in autumn and winter and claimed predominantly children as its victims. The term is still used today, but the disease itself was much more common in the days before vaccination.
Dropsy (anasarca)
Referred to a swelling, whether general or localized, such as ascites, which was dropsy of the abdomen.
Enteritis
Inflammation of the intestines, could also take the form of enteric fever (typhoid).
Grave's Disease
Disorder of the thyroid gland. This term is still in use today.
Inanition
Most commonly found in reference to infants and the elderly. It signified death from the inability to assimilate food, probably caused by illness, or, in the case of infants, premature birth.
La Grippe
Another term which enjoyed widespread use in medical advertisements, is today known as the flu.
Lues
Syphilis.
Marasmus
Progressive emaciation. In infants, it was associated with feeding problems.
Membranous croup
Marked by a hoarse, ringing cough, it could bring on death if the membrane blocked the trachea.
Milksick
One of the few causes of death not found to some extent today, was not actually a disease, but a form of poisoning. Cows could ingest the leaves of the white snakeroot plant and pass along its toxin in their milk.
Neurasthenia
Neurotic condition characaterized by worry, disturbances of digestion and circulation and attributed to emotional conflict and feelings of inferiority.
Pott's Disease
Degeneration of the vertebrae, often resulting in curvature of the spine.
Quinsy (quincy)
Severe attack of tonsilitis which resulted in abscess near the tonsils.
Septicemia
Blood poisoning, often resulted in death in the days before antibiotics.
Summer complaint
Euphemism for dysentery. It was known as such because of its high incidence in summer. Along with cholera infantum, it was highly infectious and was usually the result of environmental conditions.
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 here shallow wells could become contaminated.
  • Disease Chart
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    Ablepsy Blindness
    Ague Malarial Fever
    American plague Yellow fever
    Anasarca Generalized massive edema
    Aphonia Laryngitis
    Aphtha The infant disease "thrush"
    Apoplexy Paralysis due to stroke
    Asphycsia/Asphicsia Cyanotic and lack of oxygen
    Atrophy Wasting away or diminishing in size.
    Bad Blood Syphilis
    Bilious fever Typhoid, malaria, hepatitis or elevated temperature and bile emesis
    Biliousness Jaundice associated with liver disease
    Black plague or death Bubonic plague
    Black fever Acute infection with high temperature and dark red skin lesions and high mortality rate
    Black pox Black Small pox
    Black vomit Vomiting old black blood due to ulcers or yellow fever.
    Blackwater fever Dark urine associated with high temperature
    Bladder in throat Diphtheria (Seen on death certificates)
    Blood poisoning Bacterial infection; septicemia
    Bloody flux Bloody stools
    Bloody sweat Sweating sickness
    Bone shave Sciatica
    Brain fever Meningitis
    Breakbone Dengue fever
    Bright's disease Chronic inflammatory disease of kidneys
    Bronze John Yellow fever
    Bule Boil, tumor or swelling
    Cachexy Malnutrition
    Cacogastric Upset stomach
    Cacospysy Irregular pulse
    Caduceus Subject to falling sickness or epilepsy
    Camp fever Typhus; aka Camp diarrhea
    Canine madness Rabies, hydrophobia
    Canker Ulceration of mouth or lips or herpes simplex
    Catalepsy Seizures / trances
    Catarrhal Nose and throat discharge from cold or allergy
    Cerebritis Inflammation of cerebrum or lead poisoning
    Chilblain Swelling of extremities caused by exposure to cold
    Child bed fever Infection following birth of a child
    Chin cough Whooping cough
    Chlorosis Iron deficiency anemia
    Cholera Acute severe contagious diarrhea with intestinal lining sloughing
    Cholera morbus Characterized by nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, elevated temperature, etc. Could be appendicitis
    Cholecystitus Inflammation of the gall bladder
    Cholelithiasis Gall stones
    Chorea Disease characterized by convulsions, contortions and dancing
    Cold plague Disease characterized by convulsions, contortions and dancing
    Colic An abdominal pain and cramping
    Congestive chills Malaria
    Congestion Any collection of fluid in an organ, like the lungs
    Congestive chills Malaria with diarrhea
    Congestive fever Malaria
    Corruption Infection
    Coryza A cold
    Costiveness Constipation
    Cramp colic Appendicitis
    Crop sickness Overextended stomach
    Croup Laryngitis, diphtheria, or strep throat
    Cyanosis Dark skin color from lack of oxygen in blood
    Cynanche Diseases of throat
    Cystitis Inflammation of the bladder
    Day fever Fever lasting one day; sweating sickness
    Debility Lack of movement or staying in bed
    Decrepitude Feebleness due to old age
    Delirium tremens Hallucinations due to alcoholism
    Dengue Infectious fever endemic to East Africa
    Dentition Cutting of teeth
    Deplumation Tumor of the eyelids which causes hair loss
    Diary fever A fever that lasts one day
    Diptheria Contagious disease of the throat
    Distemper Usually animal disease with malaise, discharge from nose and throat, anorexia
    Dock fever Yellow fever
    Dropsy Edema (swelling), often caused by kidney or heart disease
    Dropsy of the Brain Encephalitis
    Dry Bellyache Lead poisoning
    Dyscrasy An abnormal body condition
    Dysentery Inflammation of colon with frequent passage of mucous and blood
    Dysorexy Reduced appetite
    Dyspepsia Indigestion and heartburn. Heart attack symptoms
    Dysury Difficulty in urination
    Eclampsy Symptoms of epilepsy, convulsions during labor
    Ecstasy A form of catalepsy characterized by loss of reason
    Edema Nephrosis; swelling of tissues
    Edema of lungs Congestive heart failure, a form of dropsy
    Eel thing Erysipelas
    Elephantiasis A form of leprosy
    Encephalitis Swelling of brain; aka sleeping sickness
    Enteric fever Typhoid fever
    Enterocolitis Inflammation of the intestines
    Enteritis Inflation of the bowels
    Epitaxis Nose bleed
    Erysipelas Contagious skin disease, due to Streptococci with vesicular and bulbous lesions
    Extravasted blood Rupture of a blood vessel
    Falling sickness Epilepsy
    Fatty Liver - Cirrhosis of liver
    Fits Sudden attack or seizure of muscle activity
    Flux An excessive flow or discharge of fluid like hemorrhage or diarrhea
    Flux of humour Circulation
    French pox Syphilis
    Gathering A collection of pus
    Glandular fever Mononucleosis
    Great pox Syphilis
    Green fever / sickness Anemia
    Grippe/grip Influenza like symptoms
    Grocer's itch Skin disease caused by mites in sugar or flour
    Heart sickness Condition caused by loss of salt from body
    Heat stroke Body temperature elevates because of surrounding environmental temperature and body does not perspire to reduce temperature. Coma and death result if not reversed
    Hectical complaint Recurrent fever
    Hematemesis Vomiting blood
    Hematuria Bloody urine
    Hemiplegy Paralysis of one side of body
    Hip gout Osteomylitis

    Presented as and for educational information only.

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