Dropsy referred to edema (abnormal fluid collection) in the lower extremities or abdomen, could have been due to either heart failure or liver disease. Typhus is a disease caused by a rickettsia (funny intracellullar organism, not quite a virus) and was epidemic in many countries. Typhoid fever is caused by a bacteria (salmonella) often attributable to "carriers", like Typhoid Mary. It is unlikely that either was correctly diagnosed in the 19th century, so references could be to either. I don't know of any specific incident of epidemic in 1905. If the deaths were in the summer months, it could have been infectious diarrhea which carried away many young children in those days. Diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and scarlet fever were also responsible for fatal epidemics among children, they usually occured in the winter. If you ever see the diagnosis of "Brights' Disease", it could mean almost anything, but usually referred to kidney failure. Pete Douglass (MD) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Adrian & Briana Etie" <agebre6@flash.net> To: <BIGGS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2003 12:35 AM Subject: [BIGGS] Old Death Certificate causes of death > I found a page that explains some of the terms used for causes of deaths during the Civil War Era. http://www.geocities.com/jleago/CivilWarDisease.html Appoplexy was one of my ancestor's cause of death and found the word Appopletic on this page to mean a modern day equivalent of a stroke. Consumption was another that stumped me and was impossible to find the meaning of in modern dictionaries and thruough searchs online. Consumption was the same thing as TB. I still don't understand the definition of Dropsy. And I wondered if anyone could tell me if Typhoid fever is the same thing as Typhus. If it is I don't know what Typhus was either. One more question, I had quite a few ancestor's young children die around 1905 that I have yet to find their cause of death, was there a disease outbreak in that time frame that anyone knows about? I appreciate your time, and would be indebted to any responses. Thank You. > > > ==== BIGGS Mailing List ==== > What came before us, is like a path....we can follow it or make our own!! bev >