Diseases and Medical Terms for Genealogists – Glossary Review

120 question-and-answer flashcards covering key historical medical terms, synonyms, and definitions useful to genealogists researching older death or medical records.

What condition is described by the historical term “Abasia”?

Hysterical inability to walk or stand.

What does the medical term “Ablepsia/Ablepsy” mean?

Blindness.

In 19th-century records, what did “Abortion” commonly refer to?

Expulsion of a fetus before viability (miscarriage).

Which zoonotic disease was nicknamed “Abortus Fever”?

Brucellosis.

What is an “Abscess”?

A localized collection of pus causing swelling and inflammation, usually from bacterial infection.

Historically, what profession is indicated by the term “Accoucheur”?

A male midwife.

What are “Actinic Rays” better known as today?

Ultraviolet light.

“Acute angina” in old death registers usually meant what common ailment?

Sore throat.

A hallmark of Addison’s disease, along with weakness and low blood pressure, is what skin change?

Bronzed discoloration of the skin.

What illness was frequently called “Ague” in historical sources?

Malarial or intermittent fever with chills, fever, and sweats.

Which organ enlarges to form an “Ague-cake”?

The spleen.

What did “Anasarca” signify in 19th-century medicine?

Generalized massive dropsy (body-wide edema).

Define an “Aneurysm.”

A localized dilation or bulging in the wall of an artery.

Explain “Angina pectoris.”

Severe chest pain due to temporary lack of blood supply to the heart muscle, often radiating down the left arm.

“Anthracosis” is a lung disease caused by inhaling what?

Coal dust.

What is “Apnoea”?

Temporary cessation of breathing.

What did “Apoplexy” usually mean on an old death certificate?

Stroke causing sudden paralysis or death.

What is meant by “Arteriosclerosis”?

Thickening and hardening of artery walls.

“Ascites” is fluid accumulation in which body cavity?

The abdominal cavity.

What process does “Atrophy” describe?

Wasting away or shrinkage of tissue or an organ.

The phrase “Bad Blood” was a euphemism for which disease?

Syphilis.

“Barber’s Itch” affected which area of the body?

Hair follicles of the beard area.

Deficiency of which vitamin causes “Beriberi”?

Vitamin B1 (thiamine).

The “Black Death” refers to what infectious disease?

Bubonic plague.

“Blackwater fever” is a severe complication of which illness?

Malaria (urine becomes dark with blood).

What modern term corresponds to historical “Blood poisoning”?

Septicaemia (sepsis).

The old term “Bloody flux” translates to what disease?

Dysentery.

Medically, what is a “Boil”?

A skin abscess of a hair follicle (furuncle).

“Bright’s disease” was a catch-all phrase for ailments of which organ?

The kidneys.

Which structures are inflamed in “Bronchitis”?

The bronchial tubes (air passages) of the lungs.

How was “Brucellosis” most often contracted historically?

By drinking contaminated animal milk (goats, pigs, cattle).

What is a “Bubo,” and where is it usually found?

An inflamed, enlarged lymph node, typically in the groin—classic for bubonic plague.

Define “Cachexia.”

General state of wasting, malnutrition and ill health.

Another name for “Caisson disease” is what?

The bends or decompression sickness.

In medical writing, what is a “Calculus”?

A stone (hard concretion) formed in organs such as the kidney or gallbladder.

How did 19th-century physicians broadly describe “Cancer”?

A malignant, invasive growth that tends to ulcerate, spread, and recur after removal.

“Cancrum oris” was most often seen in which population?

Poor, ill-nourished children; it is a destructive gangrenous ulcer of the mouth.

What was meant by “Canine madness”?

Rabies (hydrophobia).

What is a “Carbuncle”?

A large, deep boil involving a group of hair follicles.

“Cardiac insufficiency” is another term for what condition?

Heart failure.

Define “Catarrh.”

Inflammation of a mucous membrane with watery or mucus discharge—often used for a cold.

What does “Cerebritis” indicate?

Inflammation of the brain (or sometimes lead poisoning).

What was “Childbed fever”?

Puerperal infection in the mother after childbirth.

“Chincough” referred to which contagious illness?

Whooping cough (pertussis).

Historical “Chlorosis” describes what modern condition?

Iron-deficiency anaemia, especially in young women.

List two hallmark symptoms of epidemic “Cholera.”

Profuse watery (rice-water) diarrhoea and severe vomiting leading to dehydration.

“Chorea” was popularly called what dance?

Saint Vitus’ dance.

If a death register states only “Chronic,” what does that imply?

The illness persisted a long time; the exact disease was unspecified.

“Cirrhosis” primarily damages which organ?

The liver (producing a hobnail appearance).

What characteristic symptom marks “Croup” in children?

A hoarse, barking cough with upper-airway obstruction.

What skin colour change is meant by “Cyanosis”?

Bluish discoloration from lack of oxygen or poor circulation.

The term “Debility” on an old certificate signified what?

General bodily weakness or feebleness.

“Delirium tremens” is a severe reaction to withdrawal from which substance?

Alcohol.

Why was “Dengue” nicknamed “break-bone fever”?

Because of its intense muscle and joint pain.

What forms in the throat during “Diphtheria”?

A tough, grayish false membrane that may bleed if removed.

“Dropsy” is the historical name for what modern condition?

Oedema (fluid accumulation in tissues or cavities).

Main symptom set of “Dysentery”?

Bloody, mucus-filled diarrhoea with abdominal pain and straining.

Who is affected by “Eclampsia,” and what are two signs?

Pregnant women; hypertension and convulsions (seizures).

Describe the classic chest of someone with severe pulmonary “Emphysema.”

Barrel-shaped, due to over-inflated lungs.

“Encephalitis” is inflammation of what?

The brain.

Which part of the heart is inflamed in “Endocarditis”?

The inner lining and valves of the heart.

What does “Epistaxis” mean?

Nosebleed.

“Erysipelas” presents how on the skin?

A bright-red, sharply defined, spreading rash, often with fever.

Define “Gangrene.”

Death and decay of tissue due to loss of blood supply or infection.

Modern name for “Glandular fever.”

Infectious mononucleosis (mono).

What chemical buildup causes painful “Gout”?

Uric acid (urate crystals).

“Gravel” in 19th-century documents usually meant what?

Kidney stones.

The terms “Grip,” “Gripe,” or “La Grippe” described what illness?

Influenza.

What is “Haematemesis”?

Vomiting of blood from the stomach.

“Hemiplegia” produces paralysis of what extent?

One entire side of the body.

Another old name for rabies is “Hydrophobia.” True or False?

True.

What does “Hyperpiesis” indicate?

Elevated (high) blood pressure.

Where does “Hypostatic pneumonia” typically develop?

In the dependent (lower) portions of the lungs of bedridden patients.

“Impetigo” most often affects which body region?

The face, producing contagious pustules and crusts.

“Infantile paralysis” is the former name for which disease?

Poliomyelitis (polio).

“Inanition” means death or collapse from what cause?

Starvation or severe lack of nourishment.

“Intermittent fever” often signified which mosquito-borne illness?

Malaria.

What underlying problem causes “Ischaemic heart disease”?

Narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries.

What colour change typifies “Jaundice”?

Yellow discoloration of skin and eyes.

The “King’s evil” was believed curable by royal touch. What disease was it?

Scrofula (tuberculosis of the cervical lymph nodes).

Old term “Kinkcough” refers to what?

Whooping cough.

“Leprosy” was often recorded as which Latin word?

Lepra.

Why is tetanus sometimes called “Lockjaw”?

Because early muscle spasms clamp the jaw shut.

“Locomotor ataxia” is a late neurologic effect of which infection?

Syphilis (neurosyphilis).

Define “Lumbago.”

Low back pain.

A “Malignant pustule” on the skin indicates cutaneous what?

Anthrax infection.

Who was most affected by “Marasmus”?

Infants and young children suffering severe malnutrition.

Triad for acute bacterial “Meningitis” includes fever, headache, and what?

Stiff neck (nuchal rigidity).

What postpartum condition was called “Milk leg”?

Thrombosis of the veins of the thigh (phlegmasia alba dolens).

“Myocarditis” is inflammation of what tissue?

Heart muscle.

“Noma” is another term for which devastating mouth disease?

Cancrum oris (gangrenous ulceration).

What pain disorder is meant by “Neuralgia”?

Sharp, paroxysmal pain along a nerve pathway.

Define “Oedema.”

Abnormal fluid retention in tissues; swelling.

In general, what does “Palsy” indicate?

Paralysis or impaired muscle control.

“Pellagra” results from a deficiency of which vitamin?

Niacin (vitamin B3).

What is inflamed in “Pericarditis”?

The pericardial sac surrounding the heart.

“Pertussis” is better known as what?

Whooping cough.

“Pleurisy” is inflammation of which membrane?

The pleura lining the chest cavity and covering the lungs.

Define “Pneumonia.”

Inflammation and consolidation of the lung tissue due to infection or other causes.

“Pott’s disease” is tuberculosis of what structure?

The spinal vertebrae.