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Diarrhea -

Diarrhea is not a disease itself, rather a symptom. However, during the 1800s, the term was used broadly to refer to loose stools unrelated to any specific ailment.

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Diarrhea -

As per the census report, 7,850 individuals lost their lives to diarrhea in the year 1860. Even today, people continue to perish due to complications arising from diarrhea, specifically dehydration.

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Whooping cough -

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is an extremely contagious respiratory illness caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The infection has a prolonged duration and was a significant cause of mortality in the 1800s.

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Whooping cough -

Based on data from the 1860 census, approximately 8,408 individuals in America succumbed to whooping cough. This illness proved especially deadly for infants, accounting for 5% of all child fatalities during that year.

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Convulsions -

In the past, "convulsions" served as a general term encompassing various conditions that resulted in spasms, such as epilepsy, tetanus, and neonatal seizures.

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Convulsions -

Convulsions were particularly lethal in children, especially newborns and those under one year old. In 1860, records indicate that 9,077 Americans lost their lives due to convulsions.

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Cephalitis -

Cephalitis, also known as encephalitis, is not an independent condition but rather a symptom. It involves inflammation in the brain, which can arise from various factors like viruses or autoimmune diseases.

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Cephalitis -

In 1860, 10,399 Americans lost their lives due to cephalitis, commonly referred to as "brain fever."

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Dysentery -

Dysentery is not just a general term for diarrhea, but a distinct condition that does result in diarrhea with the presence of blood in the stools. It is caused by two specific microorganisms: a bacteria named shigella and a protozoan known as E. histolytica.

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Dysentery -

Washing hands after using the toilet can prevent infections. In 1860, approximately 10,500 people died from dysentery, which was more than the number of individuals affected by diarrhea alone.

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Old age -

In the 1800s, living to old age was remarkable due to health dangers like bad sanitation and lack of vaccinations. Surprisingly, some 'old' people were younger than 50.

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Old age -

In the 1860 census, "old age" was reported as the reason for the death for 10,887 individuals in America.

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Remittent fever -

Remittent fever is characterized by an unstable pattern, meaning it varies by more than a few degrees throughout the day.

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Remittent fever -

Although usually a symptom of an underlying condition like malaria, remittent fever was classified as a singular cause of death in 1860 and claimed the lives of 11,120 individuals.

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Dropsy -

Dropsy, also known as edema or "fluid retention," is the swelling of tissues caused by retaining fluids. The presence of underlying conditions such as heart failure, kidney failure, or lung disease often account for deaths attributed to dropsy.

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Dropsy -

During that time, physicians acknowledged dropsy as a symptom, yet often struggled to identify its underlying causes. In 1860, dropsy caused the demise of 12,090 individuals.

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Typhoid fever -

Typhoid fever, caused by serotypes Typhi and Paratyphi, was primarily transmitted through feces. Unfortunately, sanitation and handwashing were not prioritized by Americans in the 1800s.

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Typhoid fever -

In 1860, typhoid fever claimed the lives of 19,236 individuals. Interestingly, Mary Mallon, also known as "Typhoid Mary" (shown in the picture), became the first documented asymptomatic carrier of typhoid in the United States.

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Typhoid fever -

Mary Mallon, a cook, carried and transmitted the disease without falling ill. As a result, she was placed in quarantine and eventually confined to North Brother Island.

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Croup -

Croup is basically a severe cough that leads to swelling of the voice box and windpipe. This condition can result from either influenza or a cold virus, causing breathing difficulties. Babies and young children are more vulnerable because they have narrower air passages.

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Croup -

In 1860, croup claimed the lives of 15,211 individuals in the United States. This illness primarily affected children under the age of five, resulting in approximately 90% of the fatalities.

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Accidents -

In 1860, a total of 18,090 people tragically lost their lives in accidents. Of these, over 4,000 deaths were classified as "accidents not otherwise specified." Specifically, 4,266 people died from burns and scalding, 3,121 people died from drowning, 191 people were killed by lightning, and 741 people were tragically killed by firearms.

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Accidents -

There were 1,323 fatalities caused by falls, and 599 lives were lost in railroad accidents. Additionally, 291 Americans died from strangulation, 2,129 from suffocation, and 950 were killed by poison.

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Scarlet fever -

Scarlet fever, triggered by group A streptococcus bacteria, begins with strep throat and progresses to scarlet fever. It presents symptoms such as a vibrant red skin rash, red tongue, and, as expected, fever.

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Scarlet fever -

In 1860, a staggering total of 26,402 individuals perished due to scarlet fever, constituting 7.41% of recorded deaths that year.

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Pneumonia -

Pneumonia, caused by bacteria or viruses, remains a deadly disease in modern times.

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Pneumonia -

Eighteen-sixty witnessed the unfortunate toll of pneumonia, with 27,094 victims in America.

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Consumption -

You might know the modern term for this illness: tuberculosis. Back then, before the antibiotic streptomycin became available in 1944, this disease was deadly.

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Consumption -

In 1860, consumption was responsible for the most deaths in America, totaling 49,082. Tuberculosis contributed to approximately 14% of all deaths that year.

Sources: (United States Census Bureau) (Grunge)

See also: Famous faces who survived the Spanish Flu

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