Names of Old Diseases, Part 2 Grog Blossoms: Pimples on the nose in acne rosacea. Hatter's disease: See Mad Hatter's Disease. Hematemesis: Vomiting blood. Hematuria: Blood in the urine. Hemoptysis: Spitting up of blood Herpes, Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1): A virus that can cause painful "cold sores" or blisters on the lips ("fever blisters") or in the mouth or around the eyes. The symptomatic disease stage occurs at unpredictable intervals of weeks, months or years. The latent (inactive) virus can reactivate due to emotional stress, physical trauma, other infections, or suppression of the immune system. HSV-1 responds well to treatment with acyclovir. (Source: National AIDS Treatment Activist Forum) Horrors: Delirium tremens. Hydropericardium: Fluid around the heart, also called epricardial dropsy. Hydrothorax: Abnormal collection of brain fluid, also called dropsy. Hyperthrophy of heart: Enlargement of the heart. Icterus: Jaundice. The symptoms are a yellowing of eyes and skin. (In Greek, ikteros means both jaundice and "yellow bird.") See: Yellow jaundice. Idiot: A human being destitute of the ordinary intellectual powers, whether congenital, developmental, or accidental; commonly, a person without understanding from birth; a natural fool; a natural; an innocent. (Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - 1913) Ileus: Intestinal obstruction due to paralysis of the gut. Also called intestinal Colic. Inanition: A condition wherein the patient has been depleted by the lack of nourishment. Most commonly found in reference to infants and the elderly. It signified death from the inability to assimilate food, usually caused by illness, or, in the case of infants, premature birth. Infantum: Infant. Infantile Paralysis: Polio. Influenza Pandemic of 1918. Known as "Spanish Flu" or "La Grippe." A world wide disaster. Information of . . . an inflamation. Intemperance: Addicted to an excessive or habitual use of alcoholic liquors. Intermitten: Reoccurring. A stop and go action. As with an intermittent fever that rises and falls, only to rises again. Intestinal colic: Pain throughout the abdomen, caused often by improper diet. Intestinal structure: Tightening due to pressure or changes in intestinal walls. Intero Sas Ception, Interssusception: Part of the intestine has slipped into the area below it like a telescope. In viva, in vivus: At birth - sometimes to note a child who has died at birth. Jail Fever: Typhus Jaundice, a condition caused by blockage of intestines . Jaundice, Janders: Eyes or skin become yellowed from bile in the blood. King's evil: Tuberculosis of neck and lymph glands. La Grippe: Influenza or flu. Lax: A looseness; diarrhea. Lead palsy: Muscle paralysis due to abnormal amount of lead in the body. Leech, /hirudo medicinalis/, a.k.a., medicinal leech: The leech is a fresh water amphibious parasite. Adults feed on the blood of mammals. It attaches to the host by means of its two suckers and bites through the skin of its victim. Simultaneously, the leech injects an anaesthetic so that its presence is not detected, and an anticoagulant in order for the incision to remain open during the meal. The leech has historically been used for medicinal purposes, mainly to remove "bad blood" from the patient. Around 1850 this practice fell into disrepute. Today this species is used to relieve pressure and restore circulation in tissue grafts where blood accumulation is likely such as severed fingers and ears. (Source: Kathy Silverstein) Liver Complaint: Cirrhosis of the liver. Lock Jaw: Tetanus. Long sickness: Tuberculosis. Lues: Syphilis. Lunatic: Did not necessarily mean insane: also referred to senility or those with some affliction from birth. Lumbago: A rheumatic pain in the loins and the small of the back. Lung fever, lung sckness: Pneumonia. Lying in: Time of delivery of a baby. Mad Hatter's disease: Erythism. Mercury poisoning, causing a plethora of physical and psychiatric complaints. The term "Mad Hatter" is from the character in Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland." The character was based on the English felt and hat makers who used mercury in processing the beaver fur and thereby going insane because of it. In Danbury CT, the hat makers got the "Danbury Shakes." Malaria: Malaria is both an acute and chronic disease caused by protozoa of the genus /Plasmodium/. The protozoa are transmitted to humans by female mosquitoes of the genus /Anopheles/. Any area harboring Anopheles mosquitoes may be at risk for malaria transmission. Malaria transmission occurs in more than 100 countries. Regions include Africa, Asia, islands of the South, west, and central Pacific Ocean, Latin America, certain Caribbean islands, and Turkey. (Source: Navy Environmental Health Center) Malaria existed in parts of the United States from colonial times to the 1940s. One of the first military expenditures of the Continental Congress, around 1775, was for $300 to buy quinine to protect General Washington's troops. In the summer of 1828 "swamp fever" broke out in the settlement of Bytown (Ottawa) and along the construction route of the Rideau Canal. According to some accounts, the "malaria" was not native to North America but had been introduced by infected British soldiers who had returned from India. Numerous deaths had occurred by the time the epidemic subsided in September when the mosquitoes disappeared. During the American Civil War (1861-65), one half of the white troops and 80% of the black soldiers of the Union Army got malaria annually. More than an estimated 600,000 cases of malaria occurred in the U.S. in 1914, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. (Source: The History of Malaria, Robert S. Desowitz) Malarial Fever: Malarial or intermittent fever characterized by stages of chills, fever, and sweating at regularly recurring times, followed by an interval or intermission whose length determines the epithets: quotidian, tertian, quartan, and quintan ague. The disease was known as "fever and ague," "chill fever," "the shakes," and by names specific to the locality in which it was prevalent, such as, "swamp fever" (in Louisiana), "Panama fever," and "Chagres fever." Mania: Insanity. Marasmus: Progressive emaciation. In infants, it was associated with feeding problems. Meales: Probably a mis-spelling of measles. Membranous croup: A hoarse, ringing cough, it could be fatal if the membrane blocked the trachea. Mensis: Monthly. Metritis: Inflammation of uterus or purulent vaginal discharge. Miasma: Poisonous vapors believed to infect the air. Milk leg: Postpartum thrombophlebitis. Milk Sickness, Milksick: Milksick is not actually a disease, but a form of poisoning. Cows ingest the leaves of the white snakeroot plant and pass along its toxin in their milk. A Milksick Hollow appears in both Franklin and Grundy Counties Tennessee. A Milk Sick Mountain appears in White County. Morbus: Latin word for disease. Morbis Cutis: Heart disease. Morsal: Gangrene Mortification: Gangrene. Mumps, /myxo virus/: Mumps is an infectious disease which causes enlargement of the two salivary glands in the cheeks at the angle of the jaw. It may also cause inflammation of the pancreas and also, inflammation of the central nervous system i.e. meningitis, encephalitis or myelitis. Mylitius: Inflammation of the spine. Myocarditits: See: Carditits. Necrosis: Mortification of bones or tissue. Nepritis: Inflammation of the kidneys. Nervous Fever: Nervous prostration: Extreme exhaustion caused from the inability to control physical and mental activities. Neuralgia: Neurasthenia: A neurotic condition characterized by worry, disturbances of digestion and circulation and attributed to emotional conflict and feelings of inferiority. Obit: Death or dead. Opthalmia: Eye disease. Otalgia: Ear pain. Palsy: Paralysis or loss of muscle control. Parasite: A plant or organism that lives on or in the host, deriving nourishment from it. Some cause inflammation, but others cause infection and destroy tissue. Human parasites include fungi, yeast, bacteria, protozoa, worms and viruses. (Source: National AIDS Treatment Activist Forum) Paresthesia Abnormal sensations: numbness, burning, tingling. Paronychia: A most common infection of the hand. It is a superficial infection of epithelium lateral to the nail plate. An untreated infection can spread to the deep spaces of the hand and beyond. Parotitis: Inflammation or swelling of the parotid gland. Mumps. Parturition: Labor or the process of childbirth. Phlegmon, Pancreatic Phlegmon: Complication of Acute Pancreatitis. Phitisis: Chronic wasting away, tuberculosis. Blakiston: "1) Old term for tuberculosis. 2) Old term for any disease characterized by emaciation and loss of strength, especially diseases of the lungs." Phthisis: Tuberculosis, consumption. A chronic wasting. Phitisis Pulmonalis: Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Phossy jaw: Destruction of the jawbone by phosphorus poisoning. Seen in workers in match factories. Phrenology: A pseudo-science of the 19th century, created by L. N. Fowler Phthiriasas: Lice infestation. Phthisia: Dealing with the lungs. Piles, Hemorrhoids: Piles are swollen but normally present blood vessels in and around the anus and lower rectum that stretch under pressure, similar to varicose veins in the legs. Contributing factors include pregnancy, aging, and chronic constipation or diarrhoea. Pink Disease: Disease of teething infants due to mercury poisoning from teething powders Plague, Black Death: Bubonic Plague. Pleurisy: Inflammation of the lung, accompanied by chest pain. Pneumonia, Neumonia: Inflammation of the lungs. A major killer. Podagra: Gout. Poliomyelitis: Polio. Potter's asthma: Fibroid pthisis. Pott's Disease: Degeneration of the vertebrae, often resulting in curvature of the spine. Pox: Syphilis. Puerperal exhaustion: Death from childbirth. Puerperal fever: Septic poisoning occurring sometimes during childbirth. Puking fever: Milk sickness. Pulmonalis: Pulmonary Artery (A. Pulmonalis). We often see as a cause of death, "Phthisis Pulmonalis." Purpura: Livid spots on the skin from extravasated blood, with languor or loss of muscular strength, and pain in the limbs. Putrid fever: Diptheria or typhus. Putrid sore throat: Ulceration of an acute form, attacking the tonsils. Quarantine: A period of isolation. Originally for forty days. Quick with child: Pregnancy, from about the forth or fifth month, when the mother can feel the fetus kick. Quinsy, Quinzy: A "peritonsillar abscess," or an abscess behind the tonsil. Can be fatal. Quotidian, Quotidianna, Quotidianae: A daily occurrence. Remitting, Remitten, Remitting fever: Malaria. Rheumatism: Various disorders associated with pain in the joints. Rickets: Disease of the skeletal system resulting from a deficiency of calcium or vitamin D in the diet, or from lack of sunlight. Rose cold: Hay fever or nasal symptoms of an allergy. Rose rash: Acne Rosacea, Roseola, a.k.a., "false measles." Rubeola: German measles. Rupture: A popular term for hernia. Scarlatina: Scarlet fever - sometimes used in describing it in children. Scarlet Fever: A disease characterized by a red rash and sores. Scarlet rash: Roseola. Screws: Rheumatism. Scrivners palsy: Writer's cramp. Scrofula: A type of Tuberculosis, effects lymph nodes of the neck. Scurvy: Weakened, spongy gums, hemorrhages under skin due to lack of vitamin C. Septicemia: Blood poisoning, often fatal. Shakes: Delirium tremens, related to alcohol abuse. Shingles: A viral disease with skin blisters, caused by the Chicken Pox virus. Ship's Fever: Typhus. Siriasis: Inflammation of the brain caused by exposure to the sun. Sloes: Milk sickness. Small Pox, smallpox: One of the most infectious and deadly diseases in the world, now seen only in controlled labratories for study and germ warfare research. There are two forms of small pox virus: variola major and variola minor, wtih the "major" strain beening a far worse killer. The small pox virus is found in lesions in the upper respiratory tract, which can be transmitted by droplet secretions, and skin lesions. The virus is considered to be highly contagious, however, the route of transmission makes its spread relatively slow. Small Pox has sometimes been mis-diagnosed as syphilis. Softening of the Brain: Apoplexy, a stroke, a sudden paralysis. Spina Bithida: Spina Bifida is a fault in the spinal column in which one or more vertebrae (the bones which form the backbone) fail to form properly, leaving a gap or split. The majority of babies born with spina bifida have hydrocephalus. (See: Water on the brain, /hydrocephalus/) Spotted Fever: Typhus, cerebrospinal meningitis fever. Spurious Vaccinia: Smallpox St. Anthony's fire: Shingles, caused by the same varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox. Stillborn: Born dead. Stranger's Fever: Yellow fever St. Vitus Dance: Movement disorder due to any of several diseases of the nervous system, characterized by jerky movements that appear to be well coordinated but are performed involuntarily, mainly of the face and extremities. Often a complication of a streptococcal infection. Primarily a children's disease. Sudden Death: An immediate and most often unexpected death caused by heart attack, stroke, etc. Suicide with Laudanum: Suicide by using Laudanum, an opium preparation, sometimes mixed in alcohol. Summer complaint: Another name for dysentery. It was known as such because of its high incidence in summertime. Along with cholera infantum, it was highly infectious and was usually the result of unsanitary conditions. Summer Sickness: Could be a light case of tuberculosis. May have been applied to other illnesses such as summer complaint. Swamp Sickness: Possibly malaria, typhoid or encephalitis. Sweating Sickness: Infectious & fatal disease most common to the British Isles in the 15th century. Syphilis: A venereal disease, sexually transmitted. Tabes Mesenterica: Tuberculosis of the mesenteric glands in children, resulting in digestive derangement and wasting of the body. Teething, Cutting Teeth: The entire process which results in the eruption of the teeth. Listed in Morality Schedules as a cause of infant death. Thrush: Candida of the mouth. A disease characterized by whitish spots and ulcers on the membranes of the mouth, tongue, and fauces caused by a parasitic fungus. Synonyms: aphthae, sore mouth, aphthous stomatitis. Tick Fever: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever /Rickettsia rickettsi/. Despite the name, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is most prevalent in the Appalachian Mountains. It is a *tick-borne* rickettsia which invades both endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. Patients are systemically sick, and the vasculitis can be fatal if untreated. The ticks may attach themselves to any part fot the body. Look for them everywhere. Check your clothes. Toxemia of Pregnancy: Eclampsia, high blood pressure and seizures. Trench mouth: Painful ulcers along gum line, usually caused by poor nutrition and poor hygiene Trismus: Tetanus. Trismus Nascentium: Tetanus neonatorum. Tuberculosis: It is a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It can affect almost all the systems of the body. The most common affecion is the respiratory system. See: Consumption. Tussis Convulsiva: Whooping cough. Typhoid (typhoid fever): Often caused by unsanitary water conditions and contaminated food or milk. Flies could carry the disease and contaminate food supplies. It was more common in swampy areas where shallow wells could become contaminated. Typhoid Pneumonia: May mean either Enteric Fever (typhoid Fever) with pulmonary complications, or pneumonia with so-called typhoid symptoms. Typhus: Infectious fever characterized by high fever, headache and dizziness. Vapors: Gas from the bowels, flatulence. Venesection: The opening of a vein for letting blood; phlebotomy. Varicocele, Varicocoele: A varicose vein of the vein of the testicle Variola: Smallpox. Varix: A dilated (enlarged) vein. Venereal Disease: A sexually transmitted disease, a.k.a., a "social disease." Venesection: Bleeding. Viper's Dance: St. Vitus dance, chorea Vulnus: A wound. Vulnus incisum: A wound caused by a cut. Vulnus punctum: Stab wound. Vulnus scaplet: Knife wound. Vulnus sclopeticum: Gunshot wound. Want of breath: Perhaps this was sleep apnea which is associated with irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Water on the brain, /hydrocephalus/: Caused by the inability of cerebro-spinal fluid to drain into the bloodstream. Babies born prematurely are at risk of developing hydrocephalus. White swelling: Tuberculosis of the bone. Whooping Cough, Hooping Cough: A a highly contagious disease of the respiratory system, usually affecting children, that is characterized in its advanced stage by spasms of coughing interspersed with deep, noisy inspirations. Whitlow: An inflammation of the fingers or toes, generally of the last phalanx, terminating usually in suppuration. The inflammation may occupy any seat between the skin and the bone, but is usually applied to a felon or inflammation of the periosteal structures of the bone.(Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - 1913) Whitlow is also a condition of the hoofs of horses. Winter Fever: Pneumonia. Womb fever: Infection of the uterus. Worm Fit: Convulsions associated with teething, worms, elevated temperature or diarrhea. Worms, Tape Worms: Intestinal parasites. Yellow Fever, a.k.a., Yellow Jack, Yellow Jacket: Yellow fever is a devastating viral disease transmitted by the yellowfever mosquito, /Aedes aegypti/ (L.). The disease originated in Africa and spread to the New World during the slave trade in the 1500s. Epidemics occurred in the United States from 1794. Coastal towns in the United States were particularly vulnerable to the disease in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It caused major problems in the building of the Panama Canal. The last epidemic of yellow fever in North America occurred in New Orleans in 1905 during which more than 3000 cases were met with 452 deaths. Mild symptoms include headaches, fever, muscular pains, and nausea. Yellow fever can cause bleeding from the eyes, nostrils, anus and other mucous membranes. This terrible illness often causes dangerously high fevers, severe headaches, muscular pains, jaundice, black blood-filled vomiting, deterioration of the liver, kidneys, and the heart. Yellow fever can lead to delirium, coma, and death. Yellow Jaundice: Hepatitis A. It is a viral disease which affects the liver. It occurs most often in school children and young adults. It may be known as infectious hepatitis. The illness usually begins with a sudden onset of fever (high temperature), feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, and stomach pain which may be followed within a few days by jaundice: a yellow discolouration of the whites of the eyes and often the skin. Children may have mild infections without jaundice and often show no symptoms at all whilst adults can be more severely affected. It is an infectious disease and is most commonly spread from person to person by infected faeces (stools). The faeces are infectious for a week before the person becomes ill and for about a week after the jaundice appears. It may also spread by contaminated food or water. (Source: SEeLH Resource Centres, Communicable Disease Control - UK) Other diseases or conditions may cause a yellow jaundice effect. Example: Cirrhosis (irreversible damage to the liver cells caused by many different factors) may cause jaundice. ========== Reference sources for definitions: Garrett, Laurie, The Coming Plague, newly emerging diseases in a world out of balance. Farr, Straus, and Giroux, 1994; Penguin, 1995, +. William S. Haubrich, MD, FACP, Medical Meanings, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, PA 1984, 1997. Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - 1913 =========== Sources forr the old names: Bloom, Kaled J., The Mississippi Valley's Great Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878, by Louisiana State University Press, 1993 Cunningham, Horace Herndon, Doctors in Gray: The Confederate Medical Service. Paperback, 1993. Daniel, Larry J., Soldiering in the Army of Tennessee, by University of North Carolina Press, 1991. Dictionary of Regional American English, Vols, I, II, & II. Frederic G. Cassidy, Editor. Tennessee Mortality Schedules (1850, 1860, 1880) Published by Byron Sistler and Asscoiates, Nashville TN 1984, 1993. 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