This bounced on me for being too large so I'm breaking it into two parts. Gene Names of Old Diseases, Part 1 Addison's Disease - A disease characterized by severe weakness, low blood pressure and a bronzed coloration of the skin due to decreased secretion of cortisol from the adrenal gland. Synonyms: Morbus addisonii, bronzed skin disease. Ague - Malarial or intermittent fever characterized by paroxysms (stages of chills, fever & sweating at regularly recurring times) and followed by an interval or intermission of varying duration. Popularly, the disease was known as "fever and ague", "chill fever", "the shakes" and by names expressive of the locality in which it was prevalent such as "swamp fever" (in Louisiana), "Panama fever" and "Chagres fever". Ague-cake - a form of enlargement of the spleen resulting from the action of malaria on the system. American Plague - Yellow fever. Anasarca - Generalized massive dropsy. (See dropsy) Apoplexy - Paralysis due to stroke. Aphthae - See Thrush Aphthous Stomatitis - See Canker Ascites - See Dropsy Asthenia - See Debility Bad Blood - Syphilis Bilious Fever - A term loosely applied to certain intestinal and malarial fevers. (See Typhus) Biliousness - A complex of symptoms comprising nausea, abdominal discomfort, headache, & constipation. Formerly attributed to excessive secretion of bile from the liver. Black Plague\Black Death - Bubonic plague Black Pox - Black smallpox Black Vomit - Vomiting old (black) blood due to ulcers Blood Poisoning - Bacterial Infection; Septicemia Bloody Sweat - Sweating sickness Bone Shave - Sciatica Brain Fever - See Meningitis, Typhus. Breakbone - Dengue fever Bright's Disease - Glomerulonephritis (kidney inflammation) Camp Fever - See Typhus. Bronze John - Yellow fever, Cachexy - Malnutrition Cacogastric - Upset stomach. Cacospysy - Irregular pulse Camp Fever - Typhoid fever, aka Camp Diarrhea and Jail Fever. Catalepsy - Seizures\Trances - condition which causes seizures, trances, or unconsciousness. Catarrh - Inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially of the air passages of the head and throat with a free discharge. Bronchial Catarrh was Bronchitis; Suffocative Cattarrh was Croup; Urtheral Cattarrh was Gleet; Vaginal Cattarrh was Leukorrhea; Epidemic Catarrah was the same as Influenza. runny eyes & nose, influenza. Synonyms: Cold, Coryza. Chilblain - Swelling of the extremities cause by exposure to cold. Childbed Fever - infection following childbirth, perpherial fever. Chin Cough - Whooping cough. Chlorosis - Iron Deficiency Anemia - condition of pale or greenish skin, weakness, & dyspepsia. Cholecystitis - Inflammation of the gall bladder. Cholelithiasis - Stones of the gall bladder. Cholera - An acute, infectious disease characterized by profuse diarrhea, vomiting and cramps. Cholera is spread by feces-contaminated water & food. Major epidemics struck the US in the years 1832, 1849 & 1866. Cholera Infantum - A common, noncontagious diarrhea of young children, occurring in summer or autumn. It was common among the poor and in hand-fed babies. Death frequently occurred in 3 - 5 days. Synonyms: Summer Complaint, Weaning Brash, Water Gripes, Choleric Fever of children, Cholera Morbus. Chorea - Any of several diseases of the nervous system, characterized by jerky movements that appear to be well coordinated but are performed involuntarity, chiefly of the face & extremities. Synonym: Saint Vitus' Dance. Disease characterized by convulsions, contortions,and dancing. Cold Plague - Ague which is characterized by chills. Colic - Paroxysmal pain in the abdomen or bowels. Infantile colic is benign paroxysmal abdominal pain during the first 3 months of life. Colic rarely caused death. Renal colic can occur from disease in the kidney, gallstone colic from a stone in the bile duct. Congestive Chills - Malaria. Congestive Fever - Malaria. Consumption - A wasting away of the body; formerly applied especially to pulmonary tuberculosis. Synonyms: Marasmus (in the mid-nineteenth century), Phthisis. Convuslions - Severe contortion of the body caused by violent, involuntary muscular contractions of the extremities, trunk and head. See Epilepsy. Coryza - See Catarrh. Cramp Colic - Appendicitis. Crop Sickness - Overextended stomach. Croup - Any obstructive condition of the larynx (voice box) or trachea (windpipe), characteried by a hoarse, barking cough and difficult breathing occurring chiefly in infants and children. In the early nineteenth century it was called Cynanche Trachealis. The crouping noise was similar to the sound emitted by a chicken affected with the pip, which in some parts of Scotland was called Roup; hence, probably the term croup. Synonyms: Roup, Hives, Choak, Stuffing, Rising of the Lights. Cyanosis - Blueness of skin due to lack of oxygen. Cynanche - Diseases of the throat. Day Fever - A fever lasting one day, sweating sickness. Debility - Abnormal bodily weakness or feebleness; decay of strength. This was a term descriptive of a patient's condition and of no help in making a diagnosis. Synonym: Asthenia. Decrepitude - Feebleness due to old age. Delirium Tremens - Hallucinations due to alcoholism. (D.T's) Dengue - Infectious fever endemic to East Africa. Dentition - Cutting of the teeth. Deplumation - Tumor of the eyelids which causes hair loss. Diary Fever - A fever lasting one day. Diptheria - An acute infectious disease acquired by contact with an infected person or a carrier of the disease. It was usually confined to the upper respiratory tract (throat) and characterized by the formation of a tough membrane (false membrane) attached firmly to the underlying tissue that would bleed if forcibly removed. In the 19th century the disease was occasionally confused with scarlet fever and croup. Dock Fever - Yellow fever. Dropsy - A contraction for Hydropsy. The presence of abnormally large amounts of fluid. Congestive Heart Failure. Congestive heart failure and/or edema (swelling) due to a kidney or heart disease. Dropsy of the Brain - Encephalitis. Dry Bellyache - Lead Poisoning. Dyscrasy - An abnormal body condition. Dysentery - A term given to a number of disorders marked by inflammation of the intestines (especially of the colon). There are 2 specific varieties: 1. Amebic Dysentery & 2. Bacillary Dysentery. Synonyms: Flux, Bloody Flux, Contagious Pyrexia (fever), Frequent Griping Stools. Dysorexy - Reduced appetite. Dyspepsia - Bad digestion. Dusury - Difficulty in urination. Eclampsia - A form of toxemia (toxins or poisons in the blood) accompanying pregnancy. See Dropsy. ========== FOLK CURES Colds--Boneset Tea, start taking in October to March or April. 1/2 cup simmered in water, take every night. Insomnia--Catnip tea. Stomach Ache--Peppermint (tea? or what) Moisturizing salve from Balm of Gilead buds. Blood, purify or clean--Spicewood Tea. Stomach Bug--One teaspoon Vanilla flavoring. Sleep Help--Hot Ginger Tea. Infection--Take Olive Oil Infection inside or out--8 oz. Cranberry Juice. This came from the Warren Co. GN Gen Site: Old medical terms and some folk terms too! ~ from mortality schedules, court records, old letters, military records, and other nineteenth and early twentieth century documents. This list does pretend to be complete, nor does the compiler pretend to be a medical authority. Please do NOT use this list to diagnose yourself. If you have a medical problem, get professional help! Some of these terms are still in use today. Others have completely disappeared from normal use. Spelling variations are common. Abasia: Hysterical inability to walk or stand. Abdominal typhus: A typhus fever noted by bluish spots on the abdomen. Ablepsy: Blindness. Abscess of Liver: Most often fatal infection of the liver. It is seen as a complication of dysentery. Abscessus, Abscess: A suppurative collection anywhere in the body. In other words, an area like a wound, filled with pus. Achor: Eruption on the scalp. Acuta, Acute: A short, severe illness. Addison's Disease: An anemic condition caused by kidney disease. Adust: Burned or parched, usually meaning dehydration caused by fever. Aegrotantem: Illness, sickness. Aglutition: Inability to swallow. Ague: A sharp fever, most usually malaria. Chills and fever, heavy sweating. Also called "aksis." See Malaria. Air swellings: Gas swelled abdomen, bloated intestines. Ambustio: A burn or scald. American Plague: Yellow Fever Anasarca Anasarca: Generalized massive edema, or swelling in issues resulting from the ccumulation of fluid. Anchylosis, ankylosis:The joining together of bones or hard parts, also the resulting stiffness. Anile: Means "a weak old woman". Also applied to senility due to old age. Aphonia: The loss of voice, from many possible causes. This condition could be temporary or permanent. Edgar Cayce, the Kentucky Physic, had this condition as a young man. Apoplexy: A seizure caused by a cerebrovascular accident. A stroke, as if struck by the gods. A sudden paralysis. Ascites: A fluid filled abdomen. Alcoholic liver disease is the most common cause. Bad Blood: Syphilis. Barrel fever: Sickness produced by immoderate drinking. Bible Blister: A cyst or ganglia usually at the wrist. This cyst would be full of fluid. Grandpa would take the family Bible, with its big rigid back, have you put your hand on the table, give the cyst a hardy thump --- end of cyst! Bile: A liquid secreted from the liver. It helps absorb and digest fat. Bilious: Usually a excessive secretion of bile. Bilious Colic: An excessive amount of bile in the system with pain in the bowels. Bilious fever: An excessive amount of bile in the system with a fever. Typhoid was occasionally called "bilious fever" in eighteenth century Europe, and yellow fever was called "autumnal bilious fever" in q668 New York. Black Death: Bubonic plague. It is carried by fleas that live on vermin. 1347 to 1351, it killed a quarter of the population of Europe. Black lung: Disease from breathing coal dust. Black Pox: Black small pox. Black vomit: Yellow fever. Black-water fever: Malaria in which the urine turns dark blue or black. Bleed, Bleeding, Bloodletting:To draw blood, so as to remove "bad blood." Bloody flux: Dysentery. Bloody sweat: A sweat accompanied by a discharge of blood. Breakbone fever, dengue fever: So named "breakbone fever" by Dr. Benjamin Rush when the disease swept over Philadelphia in 1780. See "Dengue, dengue fever." Brills disease: Typhus. Bloody flux: A flow of relatively fresh blood, usually from the bowels, often accompanied by diarrhea. Bold Hives: Chicken Pox. Bone Shave: Sciatica. Brain fever: Meningitis or encephalitis. Bright's Disease: Nephritis, kidney complaint, sclerosis of the kidney. Causes cerebral hemorrhage, loss of sight, hard pulse, edema, bronchitus, high blood pressure. Bronchocele: Usually a cystic goiter, or an enlargement of the goiter, could be caused by an iodine deficiency in the diet. Bronze John: Yellow fever. Camp fever:Typhus. Camp Itch: A condition commonly found among soldiers caused by a filthy camp environment, lack of bathing, and assorted parasites. A well known malady during the Civil War. Canine Madness: Rabies, a.k.a., hydrophobia. Canker: An ulcerous sore of the mouth and lips. Herpes simplex. Carbuncle: A large boil, or a skin cancer or other tumour. Carditis (myocarditis): Inflammation of the heart wall. Catalepsy: Seizures or trances Catarrh (catarrhal bronchitis): Inflammatory affection of a mucous membrane, especially the nose and air passages. Cephalalgia: Headache. Cerebritis: Inflammation of cerebrum or lead poisoning Cerebrospinal Meningitis: Meningitis, inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Caused by various viruses and bacteria. Babies and young children are especially susceptible. Chaps: Malaria. Chicken pox, chickenpox, /varicella-zoster/ virus (VZV): This virual infection causes "dew drop on a rose petal" lesions, which typically occur first on the face and trunk. Children between 5 and 9 years of age are most commonly affected. The most common infectious complication is secondary bacterial superinfection by Strep pyogenes or Staph aureus. Shingles may occur many years later caused when the dormant /varicella-zoster/ virus becomes re-activated. Child Bed Fever: Usually, Puerperal Sepsis. A disease of women in labor. Often caused by the unwashed hands of the untrained midwife or unclean conditions. Child Bed Fever is a killer. Chilblain, chilblains: Inflammation of the hands and feet caused by exposure to cold and moisture. It is also called "pernio." Chin Cough: Whooping Cough. Chlorosis: Iron deficiency anemia. Cholelithiasis: Gall stones. Cholera: An acute, infectious disease characterized by profuse diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps. Cholera is spread by feces-contaminated water and food. Major epidemics struck the United States in the years 1832, 1849, and 1866. The last major epidemic in the U.S. east was 1866. Cholera cot: Not a disease, but simply a cot with hole cut in the middle. A bucket would be placed under the cot. The colera patient is placed on the cot. Cholera infantum: A common, noncontagious diarrhea of young children, occurring in summer or autumn. Common among the poor and in hand-fed babies. Death frequently occurred in three to five days. Synonyms: summer complaint, weaning brash, water gripes, choleric fever of children, cholera morbus. Chorea (St. Vitus' Dance, etc.): A generic term used to identify any nervous disorder. Chronic: Having long duration. Clap: Gonorrhea. Cola: Pural of Colon. Cold plague: Ague, characterized by chills. Colic: Abdominal pain and cramping. Coma: A state of profound unconsciousness. Concussion: A hard blow to the head causing cerebral malfunction. Congenital: Existing at the time of birth. Congestiva: Congestive heart failure: Spanish, insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva. Congestion of the Brain: This may be a term that covers more than one disease. Examples: Edgar Allan Poe died of "Congestion of the Brain," 1849 in Baltimore MD. It is said he was found drunk and had a brain lesion (damage). Helen Keller was born a healthy child. When Helen was 19 months old, she became ill with what was known as acute congestion of the brain and stomach; this is now known as scarlet fever." Congestive Chill: Cold, shivering, can lead to pneumonia. Congestive Fever: Malaria. Conjunctivitis, a.k.a., red eye, pink eye: Conjunctivitis is caused by the introduction of either bacterial or viral microorganisms into the eye. Consecutiva: Consecutive. Constipatio: Constipation. Consumption (phthisis pulmonalia, pulmonary tuberculosis): Tuberculosis. The term "Consumption" was commonly used in the days when there was no effective treatment of the disease. Here the body was consumed or gradually wasted away. Contagious Pyrexia: Dysentery. Contusio: Contusion. Continua: Continues, continuing. Corruption: Infection Coryza: A cold. See catarrh. Costiveness: Constipation. Cramp Colic: Appendicitis. Cretinism: Mental retardation due to congenitally under-active thyroid. Crop Sickness: Overextended stomach from over eating. Perhaps reflux oesophagitis? Croup: An obstructive condition of the larynx (voice box) or trachea (windpipe), characterized by a hoarse, barking cough and difficult breathing occurring chiefly in infants and children. In the early nineteenth century it was called cynanche trachealis. Synonyms: roup, hives, choak, stuffing, rising of the lights. Crusted Tetter: Impetigo. Curse (The): Menstruation: Cyanosis: Dark skin color from lack of oxygen in blood. Cynanche: Diseases of throat. Cystitis: Inflammation of the bladder. Danbury Shakes: See: Mad Hatter's disease. Day Fever: A fever lasting one day, sweating sickness. Debility, Debilitas: Abnormal bodily weakness or feebleness; decay of strength. May be applied to weakness of body, or feebleness of the mind, i.e., imbecility. Decrepitude: Feebleness due to old age. Delerium Tremens: Hallucinations due to alcoholism. Dementia: Dementia is loss of intellectual abilities such as memory capacity, severe enough to interfere with social or occupational functioning. Dengue, dengue fever: Infectious fever, endemic to East Africa, the Americas, and South-east Asia. It is a mosquito-carried disease that would overwhelm humans, causing headaches, eye pain, and a swelling achiness of the joints. By the 1940s, this disease was controled by earlier mosquito eradication programs to eliminate yellow fever carrying mosquitos. (See: "Breakbone fever") Dengue hemorrhagic fever (dengue-2): A new mosquito-carried disease related to to older dengue fever. It first ocurred in Manila, 1953, then in Bangkok, 1958, and Havana, 1981. By 1987, it was reported in seventeen U.S. states. Dentition: Cutting of teeth in babies. Diarrhea: Diarrhea is usually defined as frequent and-or loose stools. It can be either acute or chronic. Diarrhea / Lax: A gastro-intestinal disease. Diary fever: A short term fever, usually of a one day duration. Diphtheria: An acute infectious disease acquired by contact with an infected person or a carrier of the disease. It was usually confined to the upper respiratory tract (throat) and characterized by the formation of a tough membrane (false membrane) attached firmly to the underlying tissue that would bleed if forcibly removed. Distemper: Usually animal disease with malaise, discharge from nose and throat, anorexia. Dock fever: Yellow fever. Dropsy (a contraction for hydropsy): Disease causing fluids in the serous cavities. Referred to a swelling, whether general or localized. The presence of abnormally large amounts of fluid. Congestive heart failure. Dropsy of the brain: Encephalitis. Dry bellyache: Abdominal pain due to lead poisoning from lead containing medicines. Dry gangrene: The death of tissue due to vascular insufficiency without bacterial invasion. The tissue just dries up and shrivels. Dyscrasy: An abnormal body condition. Dysentery: Infectious disease marked by inflammation and ulceration of the lower part of the bowels and diarrhea. Dysorexy: Reduced appetite. Dyspepsia: Deranged or impaired digestion - indigestion. (May be a symptom of a heart attack). Dysury: Difficulty in urination. Eating ulcer: Peptic ulcer, pain occurs soon after eating. Elephantiasis: A form of leprosy. Encephalitis: Swelling of brain; a.k.a., sleeping sickness. Entero Colitis: Inflammation of the small intestine and colon. Enteritis: Inflammation of the intestines, or could also take the form of enteric fever (typhoid). Enterocolitis: Inflammation of the intestines. Enteritis: Inflammation of the bowels. Epilepsy: A disorder of the nervous system, characterized either by mild, episodic loss of attention or sleepiness (petittnal) or by severe convulsions with loss of consciousness (grand mal - epileptic spasms). Epitaxis: Nose bleed. Ersipelas, Erysipelas, Erysipelas: Acute infectious disease - recognized by a deep reddening of the skin. A disease of the skin, with general fever, tension, and swelling of the part. Falling sickness: Epilepsy. Fatty Liver: Cirrhosis of the liver. Febers, febirs: Fever. Typhoid febirs: Typhoid fever. Fits: Sudden attack or seizure of muscle activity. Flux: Dysentery. An excessive flow or discharge from the bowels, i.e., hemorrhage or diarrhea. French pox: Syphilis. Galloping Consumption: Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Gangrene, mormal: The death of body tissue due to the loss of blood supply to that tissue, sometimes permitting bacteria to invade it and accelerate its decay. Gastro-Enteritis: Inflammation of the small intestine. Giardiasis: A common protozoal infection of the small intestine spread via contaminated food and water and direct person-to-person contact. Glandular Fever: Mononucleosis. Gonorrhea: A sexually transmitted disease; inflammation of genital mucous membranes caused by the bacteria /gonococcus/. Goiter, /struma/: A noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland, visible as a swelling at the front of the neck, that is often associated with iodine deficiency. Gout: A disturbance of uric-acid metabolism occurring predominantly in males, characterized by painful inflammation of the joints, especially of the feet and hands. Gravel: Granular/sand-like material forming the substance of the urinary calculi and passed in the urine. Grave's Disease: A disorder of the thyroid gland. Great white plague: Tuberculosis. Green Sickness: Chlorosis, an iron-deficiency anemia especially of adolescent girls that may impart a greenish tint to the skin. Gripe, Grippe, Grip, La Grippe: Influenza. Grocer's itch: Skin disease caused by mites in sugar or flour. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.12/1245 - Release Date: 1/26/2008 3:45 PM