Daily AncestorAppendicitis
Appendicitis meant an inflamed appendix; the word was coined by American doctor Reginald Fitz in 1886 and replaced perityphlitis and similar names.
Webster's 1913 defines appendicitis as inflammation of the vermiform appendix. Wikipedia credits Reginald Heber Fitz with the term in 1886 and lists older names including perityphlitis, typhlitis and iliac passion.
Because the word did not exist before 1886, it cannot appear on the 1850 to 1880 mortality schedules. Look there for the older names, such as perityphlitis or iliac passion.
As seen in a recordCause of death line, state death certificate, 1910s to 1930s
Cause: Appendicitis. Contributory: General peritonitis.
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Appendicitis." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/causes-of-death/appendicitis. Last checked 2026-10-12.