Daily AncestorBilious colic
Bilious colic was an old diagnosis for sudden, severe belly pain with vomiting of bile, a label that could cover gallstone attacks and other abdominal emergencies.
Bilious meant connected with bile or the liver, and colic meant gripping pain in the abdomen. Together they described an attack of cramping pain, nausea and yellow or green vomiting.
Doctors used the term loosely, so it may hide gallstones, a blocked bowel, appendicitis or a stomach infection. Read it as a description of symptoms rather than a firm diagnosis.
As seen in a recordCause of death column, 1850 to 1880 federal mortality schedule
Reuben Hale, 52, M, W, Farmer, July, Bilious colic, 4 days
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Daily Ancestor. "Bilious colic." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/causes-of-death/bilious-colic. Last checked 2026-10-01.