Daily AncestorQuick consumption
Quick consumption, also called galloping consumption, meant tuberculosis that killed within weeks or a few months instead of years.
Quick consumption and galloping consumption were names for tuberculosis that ran a short, violent course. Where ordinary consumption might linger for years, this form could kill within weeks.
The label describes speed, not a separate germ. A short illness count in the days-ill column of a mortality schedule next to this term fits that meaning.
As seen in a recordCause of death column, 1850 to 1880 federal mortality schedule
Ann Daley, 19, F, W, Single, Ireland, May, Quick consumption, 42 days
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Daily Ancestor. "Quick consumption." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/causes-of-death/quick-consumption. Last checked 2026-10-01.