Uncle Remus had Jail Fever??

When going through old family papers such as death certificates or diaries, you may come across some odd illnesses.  Of course they are only odd to us.  A century from now, Swine Flu will probably sound strange.

Grandma may have written to Gramps while he was gone to fight the war, telling him little Tommy was in bed with the grippe.  Today, we would just say he had the flu.

Mary goes off to aunt Victoria's for the summer and comes down with nostalgia.  She's suffering from homesickness.  Polly suffered from melancholy; she's depressed.

In the 1800s, when hordes headed out west to find their fortunes, many never made it.  Those who didn't make it may have succumbed  to Winter Fever (Pneumonia), Scurvy, Tick Fever (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever), Spotted Fever (typhus or meningitis) or Lockjaw (tetanus if left untreated is fatal in eight days).  Women who gave birth on the trails often suffered from Child Bed Fever, an infection after childbirth.

Other illnesses from days past would be Dropsy, Grocer's Itch (skin disease caused by mites in flour or sugar), Gout, Infantile Paralysis or Horrors.

Now, go back and reread the certificates, diaries and letters.  How many ancestors had suffered from Kruchhusten, Scrivener's Palsy or Cramp Colic?

By the way, I don't have an Uncle Remus and jail fever is typhus.