
Terms
ague: (chill) intermittent fever or recurring symptom from malaria
amputation: removal of a body appendage, usually a limp
circular: using a single flap and making a circular cat at a 90 degree angle along the axis of the appendage
primary: surged done before the period of shock and inflammation
secondary: performed to improve an earlier amputation
anodynes: medicine that relieves pain
apoplexy: stroke
asthenia: weakness
bilious attack: certain disease, malaria or typhoid designated a bilious fever. applied to a group of symptoms: headaches, abdominal pain and constipation
blue mass: (blue pill) mercury mass used for many conditions
Bright's disease: kidney disease
camp state: various symptoms (fever or diarrhea) which happen when troops are crowded together
catarrhus: inflammation of the mucus membranes
cholera: acute infectious disease characterized by severe diarrhea and fluid loss. Resulting in dehydration and electrolyte loss. Often leading to death.
colica: acute abdominal pain
consumption: wasting away of the body. (tuberculosis)
debility: lack or loss of strength
dementia: insanity, organic loss of intellectual function.
dengue: (break bone fever) infectious disease which is characterized by severe pain in the eyes, head and extremities with catarrhal symptoms. Transmitted but he bite of a mosquito.
dysentery: inflammation of the intestines. (chemical irritant, bacteria or parasite)
dyspepsia: describe epigastic discomfort after meals. state in the stomach in which functions are disturbed
dyspena: difficulty breathing
erysipelas: contagious skin disease due to areas being infected by a strep germ. Characterized by redness and swelling of the affected areas. Last between 10-14 days.
excision: removal by cutting. Instead of performing an amputation
fevers: elevation of body temperature above normal
camp: a "catch-all" phrase. Includes typhoid and other diseases.
intermittent: recurring fevers, usually caused by malaria
remittent: used to refer to malaria
typhoid: disease characterized by chills, fever, abdominal distention and an enlarged spleen
yellow: acute infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Symptoms: jaundice, fever and protein. Final stage could include coma and delirium
grippe: (influenza) acute viral infection in the respiratory tract
malaria: disease caused by a protozoa. Parasitic of red blood cells and is transmitted by mosquitoes. symptoms: chills, fever and sweating. Chronic and recurring.
morbi: diseased or unhealthy
mortification: death
osteomyelitis: inflammation of bone. A common surgical fever.
peritonitis: often the cause of death in abdominal wounds. Inflammation of the internal membrane lining the abdomen and pelvic walls
pneumonia: inflammation of the lungs. Different types: hypostatic, senile and typhoid.
prostration: extreme exhaustion
pyemia: refereed to pus in blood. Used during the Civil War to denote all types of blood poisoning, fatal.
pyrosis: heartburn
quinine: drug principally used to treat malaria fevers including typhoid
resection: (excision) recommended treatment for some types of fracture instead of amputation
rheumatism: inflammation of the joints, muscles and bursae
inflammatory: rheumatic fever, could be fatal.
sloughing bone: necrotic bone that separates from portions that are viable
suppuration: formation of pus. Good sign during the 1860's.
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These are just a few compiled terms that were used during the Civil War.
1. Goellnitz, Jenny. "Common Civil War Medical Terms." ehistory. Accessed February 10, 2017. https://ehistory.osu.edu/exhibitions/cwsurgeon/cwsurgeon/commonterms.