Daily Ancestor

Drawer · 114 cards

Old causes of death

Disease names from death records and mortality schedules.

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Shelves of an old apothecary lined with labeled glass bottles, dark jars and wooden drawers — Labeled bottles and jars on the shelves of an old apothecary shop.Richie Diesterheft (Flickr), CC BY-SA 2.0

A

AAccidental deathDeath by accident AAgueMalaria, with recurring chills and fever AApoplexySudden collapse, usually a stroke AAsiatic choleraTrue epidemic cholera from contaminated water AAtrophyWasting away of the body

B

BBilious colicSevere belly pain with vomiting of bile BBilious feverFever with jaundice or vomiting, often malaria BBlack vomitYellow fever, named for its dark bloody vomit BBloody fluxDysentery, diarrhea with blood BBrain feverFever with delirium, often meningitis BBreakbone feverDengue fever, with severe aching bones BBright's diseaseKidney disease (nephritis)BBurnsDeath from fire or scalding

C

CCamp feverFever in army camps, typhoid or typhus CCankerSpreading ulcer, often of the mouth CCanker rashMouth sores with a skin rash, maybe scarlet fever CCapillary bronchitisBronchitis in the smallest airways; bronchopneumonia CCatarrhAirway inflammation with heavy mucus CChildbed feverInfection after childbirth (puerperal fever)CChin coughWhooping cough CChlorosisIron-poor anemia with greenish-pale skin CCholera infantumSevere diarrhea in babies, not true cholera CCholera morbusGastroenteritis, not epidemic cholera CConfinementChildbirth or the lying-in period CCongestion of the brainVague diagnosis for sudden brain symptoms CConsumptionTuberculosis, usually of the lungs CConsumption of the bowelsTuberculosis of the abdomen or bowels CConvulsionsSeizures, often given for infant deaths CCroupBarking cough and choking breath in a child CCyanosisBlue skin from lack of oxygen

D

DDebilityGeneral bodily weakness DDeclineSlow failing of health, cause unnamed DDelirium tremensFatal shaking and confusion of alcohol withdrawal DDentitionTeething (blamed for infant deaths)DDropsySwelling from fluid buildup (edema)DDropsy of the brainFluid on the brain (hydrocephalus)DDrownedDied by drowning DDyspepsiaIndigestion, chronic stomach trouble

E

EErysipelasRed, spreading strep skin infection EExposureDeath from cold or weather (hypothermia)

F

FFalling sicknessEpilepsy FFelo de seInquest verdict: took own life while of sound mind FFloodingHeavy bleeding after childbirth FFluxDiarrhea or dysentery FFound deadInquest verdict: cause could not be found

G

GGastric feverTyphoid fever, named for its stomach symptoms GGravelSandy grit or tiny stones passed in urine GGrippeInfluenza (the flu)

H

HHectic feverDaily flushing fever of consumption HHemorrhage of the lungsCoughing up blood, often from consumption HHydrophobiaRabies HHydrothoraxFluid around the lungs (dropsy of the chest)

I

IIliac passionViolent colic with vomiting; blocked bowel IInanitionExhaustion from lack of nourishment IInfantile paralysisPolio IInflammation of the bowelsBowel illness with pain, often enteritis IInflammation of the brainBrain or its lining inflamed (meningitis)IInflammation of the lungsPneumonia, as written by 1800s doctors IInflammatory rheumatismRheumatic fever, with hot swollen joints IIntemperanceDeath blamed on heavy drinking IIntermittent feverFever returning in cycles, mostly malaria

L

LLockjawTetanus LLuesSyphilis (Latin medical name)LLung feverPneumonia (folk name)

M

MMalignant feverAny fever severe enough to threaten life MMarasmusSevere wasting in an infant from malnutrition MMembranous croupCroup with a throat membrane, usually diphtheria MMilk legBlood clot in the leg after childbirth MMilk sicknessPoisoning from milk of cows that ate snakeroot MMortificationGangrene, death of body tissue

N

NNervous feverSlow fever with delirium, usually typhoid NNostalgiaHomesickness, then counted as a disease

O

OOld ageDeath of an elderly person, no disease named OOssification of the heartHardened, chalky heart valves or arteries OOverlayingInfant smothered by a sleeping adult

P

PPainter's colicLead poisoning, with cramping belly pain PPalsyParalysis, often after a stroke PPellagraNiacin deficiency with rash and confusion PPhthisisMedical word for consumption (tuberculosis)PPleurisyInflamed lining of the lungs, sharp chest pain PPuerperal convulsionsSeizures around childbirth (eclampsia)PPurpuraPurple spots from bleeding under the skin PPutrid feverTyphus (older name)PPutrid sore throatFoul, ulcerated throat (diphtheria or scarlet fever)

Q

QQuick consumptionFast-moving, rapidly fatal tuberculosis QQuinsyAbscess beside the tonsil (severe sore throat)

R

RRemittent feverFever that eases but never breaks, often malaria RRheumatismJoint and muscle pain of many kinds RRicketsSoft, bent bones from lack of vitamin D RRubeolaMeasles (medical name)RRuptureHernia, deadly when the bowel was trapped

S

SScarlatinaScarlet fever SScrofulaTuberculosis of the neck glands SScurvyVitamin C deficiency disease SSenilityMental and physical decline of age SShip feverTyphus caught aboard crowded ships SSmallpoxVariola virus disease with pustules SSoftening of the brainDecay of brain tissue, gradual mental decline SSpotted feverFever with skin spots, often meningitis SSt. Vitus' danceChorea, jerky involuntary movements SStillbornBaby born dead SStoneA large stone in the bladder or kidney SStruck by lightningKilled by a lightning strike SSummer complaintHot-weather diarrhea, mainly in small children SSunstrokeHeat stroke from sun or extreme heat

T

TThrushYeast infection of the mouth, white patches TTrismus nascentiumTetanus in a newborn baby TTypho-malarial feverCivil War diagnosis: mixed typhoid and malaria TTyphoid feverWaterborne Salmonella fever, not typhus TTyphusLouse-borne fever with rash

V

VVarioloidMild smallpox in a partly protected person VVisitation of GodInquest verdict: sudden natural death

W

WWormsIntestinal parasites such as roundworms

Y

YYellow jackYellow fever (nickname)