Daily AncestorBlackwater fever
Blackwater fever was a dangerous complication of malaria in which red blood cells burst and the urine turned dark red or black.
Wiktionary describes blackwater fever as a malaria complication in which red cells burst in the bloodstream, coloring the urine dark red or black. It was probably an immune reaction linked to the malaria parasite and the use of quinine.
Physician John Farrell Easmon coined the name blackwater fever in 1884 and first linked it to malaria. On an old record, blackwater fever is a strong sign the person had malaria.
As seen in a recordCause of death line, state death certificate, 1910s to 1930s
Calvin Moss, 37, M, W, Blackwater fever
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Blackwater fever." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/causes-of-death/blackwater-fever. Last checked 2026-10-10.