Daily AncestorCongestive chill
Congestive chill was an old name for a sudden, often fatal attack of malaria with a deep chill and collapse, also called congestive fever.
Webster's 1913 gives congestive fever as an example of a fever with congestion of some part of the body. A 1908 medical journal note complained that writings on malaria offered few suggestions for congestive chill, and its author lost his first such patient.
The 1911 Britannica called the most dangerous malarial attacks pernicious and noted that they led to stupor, collapse and death. Congestive chill is best read as one of these severe attacks.
As seen in a recordCause of death column, 1850 to 1880 federal mortality schedule
Rufus Bell, 30, M, W, Aug., Congestive chill
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Daily Ancestor. "Congestive chill." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/causes-of-death/congestive-chill. Last checked 2026-10-10.