Daily AncestorConsumption of the bowels
Consumption of the bowels usually meant tuberculosis in the abdomen, especially of the intestinal lymph glands, though some used it for any wasting bowel illness.
Tuberculosis could attack the glands and lining of the abdomen as well as the lungs. Doctors called this tabes mesenterica, and families said consumption of the bowels, especially when a child slowly wasted away.
Not every case was tuberculosis. A long dysentery or chronic diarrhea could also be described this way, so treat it as a strong hint, not proof.
As seen in a recordCause of death column, 1850 to 1880 federal mortality schedule
Henry Lee, 13, M, W, May, Consumption of bowels
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Daily Ancestor. "Consumption of the bowels." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/causes-of-death/consumption-of-the-bowels. Last checked 2026-10-01.