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Causes of Death Definitions


apoplexy - hemorrhage of a blood vessel in the brain; a sudden loss of sensation; a stroke

bilious fever - excess bile accompanied by high fever and vomiting; sometimes jaundice was part of the cause; symptoms usually included headaches, furred tongue, and pain in the joints; quinine was considered the preferred remedy

brain fever - meningitis, inflammation of membranes of the brain or spinal chord

Bright's disease - also known as albuminuria, essential nephritis, kidney disease; a progressive, degenerative disease of the kidney characterized by drpsy of the upper and lower parts of the body; ranked high as a cause of death during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries

cholera infantum - also known as cholera morbus, infantile diarrhea, summer complaint; a disease of infants and young children characterized by vomitting, severe diarrhea, and fever; was of short duration and death frequently occurred within three to five days; was common among the poor and hand fed infants and was found frequently in summer and early autumn

chronic - a catchall term for any disease of slow progress, long duration, or frequent recurrence

congestion of the brain - sunstroke

consumption - pulmonary tuberculosis; a progressive wasting away of body tissue, particularly by the disease called phthisis pulmonalia; it was thought to be inherited at one time

croup - (1) inflammation of the larynx, especially in infants, with noticeable periods of difficult breathing, hoarse cough, and laryngitis; (2) a disease known scientifically as acute obstructive laryngitis, diphtheria, or occasionally strep throat

dropsey - edema; excessive buildup of clear fluid in body tissues or cavities; frequently included edema of the heart area; usually both sleeping and breathing were difficult

dyspepsia - indigestion; impairment to digestion caused by ulcer, gall bladder disease or inflamed colon; symptoms include weakness, loss of appetite, and depression

enteritis - inflammation of the intestine, mainly the small intestine; this condition has been attributed to many causes including teething, a sudden drop in temperature, poor environment and neurosis

erysipelas - also known as Saint Anthony's Fire; caused by a strep infection which causes an inflammation of the skin and is accompanied by sore limbs, sore throat and tenderness of the glands; bruised cranberries applied to the affected area were sometimes used as a remedy

gravel - a deposit of small calculous concretions (stones) in the kidneys and bladder

jaundice - a condition caused by an obstruction of bile and characterized by yellowness of the skin, fluids, and tissues, constipation, loss of appetite, and weakness

membranous croup - also known as diphtheritic croup, laryngeal diphtheria; an acute contagious disease preceded by diphtheria of the throat and/or nose characterized by severe breathing problems due to thick, obstructive covering on the membranes of the throat and/or nose

pleurisy - an inflamed pleura (membrane lining of the throat between the lungs and abdomen) characterized by fever, painful and difficult breathing, and a short dry cough

scrofula - a disease call the King's Evil, characterized by tumors in the glands of the neck; tuberculosis of lymph glands; it was thought that a king's touch could cure the disease, thus its name

spotted fever - cerebrospinal meningitis fever, characterized by inflammation of the cerebra-spinal meningitis; see also typhus

summer complaint - also seen as summer disease, summer diarrhea; diarrhea caused by contaminated food; found especially in children and was most common in hot weather

thrush - a fungal disease usually contracted by children and characterized by milky-white lesions on the membranes of the mouth, lips, and throat

tuberculosis - a communicable disease caused by infection with tubercle bacillus characterized by toxicity of the lungs

typhus - a severe disease remarkable with its high fever, delirium, stupor, intense headaches, deep red rash; it was transmitted to man by lice

worms - parasites; Hookworms originated in Africa and were brought to America with slaves. treatment included wormwood tea, oatmeal, and male ferns