The following index includes a count of the more common causes, and identifies certain unfamiliar medical terms. I have not intended to give a technical medical description of these diseases (since I have absolutely no medical knowledge), but to translate antiquated popular names, and put the diseases in historical context. In particular, I have focused on the perceived causes and treatments of certain diseases.
Conditions of specific organs (e.g. Disease of Heart, Inflammation of Lungs) are indexed under the body part. This includes all causes modified by Acute, Chronic, Congestion of, Cramp of, Disease of, Dropsy of, Enlargement of, Hemorrhage from, Hypertrophy of, Inflammation of, Obstruction of, and Ulceration of.
Fevers, fractures, and cancers have been listed under fever, fracture, and cancer.
Sources: I have relied upon medical dictionaries of varying ages. Be sure to note the age of any quote listed here.
Spellings have been standardized to Dunglison. Unidentified words have been left in quotation marks. The term "(2nd)" after a death record number indicates that the cause was listed second in a town record with two causes given. If two counts are given, the first is the number of references in Section I, and the second (in parentheses) includes deaths from section II.
(not recorded in town records) count = 77 Abdominal Inflammation 431 Dunglison (Encoelitis): "Inflammation of any of the abdominal viscera." ILCOD: Included in a list of "ill defined" diseases. Aberration Minor 480 Dunglison (Aberration): "The passage of a fluid of the living body into an order of vessels not destined for it." Accidental 241 Anasarca 518 (2nd) Dunglison: (also General Dropsy) "Commonly, it begins to manifest itself by swelling around the ankles; and is characterized by tumefaction of the limbs and of the soft parts covering the abdomen, thorax, and even the face, with paleness and dryness of the skin, and pitting when any of these (especially the ankles) are pressed upon." ILCOD: Included in the list of "Ill-defined diseases." Aneurism of the subclavian "atsa" 448 (2nd) Aneurism 329 Dunglison (Aneurism): "Properly, Aneurism signifies a tumour, produced by the dilatation of an artery; but it has been extended to lesions of arteries, as well as to dilatations of the heart." (Subclavian): "That which is under the clavicle." Apoplexy count: 16 (17) [14 out of 17 are aged 60 and over] 103(2nd), 552, 557, 582, 624, 627, 668, 680, 702, 707, 742, 743, 786, 812, 813, 814, 878 Foster: "Properly, a stroke of paralysis. In typical cases, the individual suddenly loses consciousness and all control over the voluntary muscles. If he does not die at once, he remains for a considerable length of time profoundly unconscious ... it is commonly found that certain muscles, especially those of one side of the body, are completely paralyzed." Atresia Recti 180 Dunglison (Atresia): "Imperforation." Atrophy 78 Dunglison: (Also Marasmus) "Defective nutrition." ILCOD: List of Undesirable Terms: "Frequently cover[s] tuberculosis and other definite causes." Bladder, Disease of 476 Bladder[?], Hemorrhage from 825 Bowels, Inflammation of 8, 698, 843 Bowels, Interceptions of 584 Bowels, Obstruction of 847, 850 Bowels, Ulceration of 620, 751 Bowels, "[?]aration" of 348 Brain, "Cadeveic" [Cadaveric?] softening of 415 (2nd) Brain, Concussion of 635 Brain, Congestion of 417? (2nd) Dunglison: (Cephalaemia) Accumulation of blood in the vessels of the brain." Brain, Disease of 197, 676 Brain, Dropsy of the 43, 113 Dunglison: (Hydrocephalus) "A collection of water within the head." Brain, Infection of 220 Brain, Inflammation of 464, 502, 797 Brain, Softening of 499, 536, 548 Foster: "As used by the laity, any disease, especially general paresis of the insane, associated with progressive dementia." Bright's Disease 780, 857, 864 Bronchitis Count: 9 (8 of 9 were age 67 and over) 200, 266, 345, 347, 444, 600, 706, 863, 882 Bronchitis, Acute 309 Burnt to Death 868 Cancer 268, 645, 865, 881, 885 Cancer of the Uterus 805 Cancer on Stomach 414, 452, 501, 842, 852 Cancer of Womb 712, 784, 820 See also Carcinoma Uteri "Cancinsina" ["Carcinoma"?] Mole 516 Canker Rash 107 Foster: "A variety of Scarlet Fever with an ulcerated throat." Capillary Bronchitis 773 Carcinoma Uteri 546 Cart, Killed by a 611 Cauliflower Excrescence 546 (2nd) Dunglison: "An excrescence, which appears about the origin of the mucous membranes ... which resembles, in appearance, the head of a cauliflower. It is often syphilitic in its character. Foster: "Soft cancer of the cervix uteri." "Cerebrilis[?] chrinin[?]" 816 [Perhaps the word is "Cerebritis" which Dunglison gives as a synonym for phrenitis. See Fever, Brain.] Chest, Dropsy of the 230, 722 Childbirth 49, 399, 690 "Chinoses" 542 Cholera, Asiatic 18, 607 Foster: "An acute infectious disease indigenous to India, whence it is at times conveyed to other parts of the world in the form of destructive epidemics that follow the paths of human travel." Dunglison: "... is frightful in the rapidity of its progress, the patient sometimes dying in a few hours from the first onset." Cholera II-124 Dunglison: "A disease characterized by anxiety, gripings, spasms in the legs and arms, and by vomiting and purging (generally bilious)" Cholera Infantum Count = 18 17, 128, 131, 140, 141, 318, 365, 417, 466, 471, 505, 558, 614, 628, 693, 787, 793, 795 Dunglison: "It occurs, generally, in the middle states of the Union, in June or July, and continues during the hot weather, hence called the 'summer complaint.' ... The heat of the weather seems to be the predisposing, if not the exciting, cause." Blakiston: "Old term applied indiscriminately to diarrheal conditions in infants and young children." "Commis cluleloslus[?]" 560 (2nd) Consumption Count = 104 1, 2, 13, 25, 42, 52, 55, 56, 57, 58, 61, 66, 67, 70, 72, 80, 89, 104, 106, 151, 176, 177, 179, 199, 202, 204, 235, 251, 256, 264, 280, 281, 289, 291, 301, 302, 307, 315, 317, 319, 330, 341, 350, 354, 355, 364, 372, 374, 377, 381, 382, 395, 402, 408, 413, 416, 424, 438, 440(2nd), 458, 470(2nd), 481, 488, 507, 545, 549, 568, 569, 573, 629, 640, 666, 673, 674, 684, 687, 695, 705, 708, 709, 727, 728, 736, 737, 740, 756, 758, 767, 776, 782, 803, 806, 809, 827, 831, 833, 845, 859, 871, 877, 879, 884, F-17, F-24, F-27. Dunglison: "Progressive emaciation or wasting away. This condition precedes death in the greater part of chronic diseases, and particularly in phthisis pulmonalis: on this account it is, that phthisis has received the name consumption - See Phthisis." Blakiston: "An old term, formerly used to designate progressive tuberculosis." Contusions 631 Convulsions 86, 201, 498 (all five years old or younger) Dunglison: "any violent perversion of the animal movements." ILCOD: List of Undesirable Terms: "it is hoped that this indefinite term will henceforth be restricted to those cases in which the true cause of that symptom cannot be ascertained." Croup count = 11 (all nine years old or younger) 124, 189, 233, 303, 375, 547, 559, 574, 597, 771, 796 Dunglison: (Cynanche Trachealis) "A disease characterized by sonorous and suffocative breathing; harsh voice; cough, ringing, or like the barking of a dog; fever, highly inflammatory. ... As a general rule, it requires the most active treatment; bleeding from the arm or neck, so as to induce paleness; leaches applied to the neck, &c., according to the age, - the warm bath, blisters to the neck or chest, and purgatives." ILCOD: List of Undesirable Terms: "Write Diphtheria when this disease is the cause of death." "Cuachitis[?]" 686 Decay of system 724 Delirium Tremens 461 Dementia 840 Dunglison: "In common parlance, and even in legal language, the word is synonymous with insanity. Physicians, however, have applied it to those cases of unsound mind which are characterized by the total loss of the facility of thought, or by such imbecility of intellect that the ideas are extremely incoherent..." Diabetes 470, 571 (2nd) Diabetes Mellitus 719 Diarrhea count = 8 (six under age four, two 72 or older) 88, 90, 91, 218, 226, 334, 394, 846 Dunglison: "It is commonly caused by errors in the regimen, the use of food noxious by its quality or quantity, &c." Diarrhea, Chronic 95, 96, 162, 240?, 306 Diphtheria 451 (2nd), 529, II-62 Dropsy count: 14 (ten were age 55 and older) 29, 46, 92, 105, 247, 284, 295, 410, 654, 753 (2nd), 772, 800, 819, 823 ILCOD: List of Undesirable Terms: "'Dropsy' should never be returned as the cause of death without particulars as to its probable origin ... " Dropsy "fr.[?] Heart Duius[?]" [Disease?] Drowned count = 21 (25) (all from town records except one were male mariners, ages ranging between 14 and 65.) 193, 198, 242, 243, 244, 310, 311, 316, 343, 344, 404, 422, 477, 551, 591, 596, 617, 704, 715, 723, 755, 874, II-27, II-146, II-187 Ductus, Occlusion of the 560 Dumb Ague 637 Dunglison: (Fever, masked) "An anomalous intermittent [fever], the [symptoms] of which have not the regular stages, or are masked." Dysentery count = 32 (16 are aged eight or younger, 7 are aged 61 or older.) 8, 10, 12, 19, 20, 21, 23, 27, 28, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 60, 69, 120, 122, 125, 126, 205, 209, 221, 336(2nd), 409, 411, 506, 555, 581, 598, 615, 717 Dunglison: "It occurs, particularly, during the summer and autumnal months, and in hot climates more than in cold: frequently, also, in camps and prisons, in consequence of impure air, and imperfect nourishment: and is often epidemic. ... Generally it yields to mild laxatives, as castor oil, combined with diaphoretic narcotics ... but, at times, the inflammation runs on so speedily to ulceration, that, unless a new action be rapidly excited, death will be the consequence. In such cases, mercury must be rapidly introduced into the system, and narcotics may be combined with it." Dyspepsia 415 "Elanpsia" 493 Emphysema 760 Entero Colitis 418, 467, 475 Dunglison: "Inflammation of the small intestine and colon." Erysipelas 134, 199, 362, 753 Dunglison: "A disease... of the skin, with general fever, tension, and swelling of the part... copious bleeding and other evacuants may be required." Expose to Heat 502 (2nd) Exposure II-149 Falling from the Mast head 453 Fell from Aloft 292, 406 Fever count = 14 (9 were mariners) 14, 127, 237, 245, 246, 249, 255, 275, 276, 287, 288, 299, 304, 479 Fever and Ague 606, 801 See Fever, Intermittent. Fever, Bilious count = 36 (all male, 32 were mariners; ages range from 18 to 60.) 9, 16, 26, 30, 50, 59, 68, 121, 231, 269, 296, 333, 340?, 366, 367, 380, 592, 601, 602, 605, 609, 610, 612, 613, 634, 670, 720, 739, 745, 785, 788, 815, 817, 839, 866, 876 Dunglison: "The common remittent fever of summer and autumn; generally supposed to be owing to, or connected with, derangement of the biliary system." ILCOD: Included in the list of "ill defined" diseases. McGrew: [Notes that typhoid was occasionally called "bilious fever" in eighteenth century Europe, and yellow fever was called "autumnal bilious fever" in 1668 New York.] Fever, Bilious Remittent 85, 139, 504 Dunglison: (relapse) (also Relapsing or Recurrent Fever) "a form of continued fever, which has occasionally appeared epidemically ... and was generally attended with icteric symptoms. The main phenomena disappeared at about the end of a week; but in many cases a relapse occurred about the end of a fortnight. Few died of the affection." Fever, Brain 47, 71, 326(2nd), 384, 535, 658 Dunglison: (Phrenitis) "Disease characterized by violent pyrexia, pain in the head, redness of the face and eyes, intolerance of light and sound, watchfulness, and delirium, either furious or muttering. ... The most active treatment must necessarily be pursued. Repeated bleeding; purging; the application of ice to the shaved head; a position in which the head is raised; and the avoiding of irritation of any kind; -form the remedial means during the violent stage." Blakiston: "Cerebral Meningitis" Fever, Chagres 37 Dunglison: (also Panama Fever) "A severe form of endemic fever, common on the isthmus of Panama." Foster: "A severe form of malarial fever acquired on the isthmus of Panama, often developing into the pernicious haemorrhagic form of malarial fever." Fever, Intermittent 848 Dunglison: (Also Ague and Fever, Fever Intermittens) "The symptoms of intermittents are those of a decided and completely marked cold stage or Stage of Concentration, ... the hot stage, or stage of expansion, ... [and] the sweating stage or stage of termination. ... The chief exciting cause is marsh miasmata, the malaria of the Italians. Ague, also, occurs in districts where there are no marshy emanations. Such districts are, generally, of a volcanic nature:- further we know not." Blakiston: "Malaria." "Fever Intermettums" 632 See Fever, Intermittent. Fever, Lung count = 20 (21) (ten are aged 58 or older) 4, 5, 6, 11, 109, 150, 232, 262, 279, 297, 339, 370, 373, 383, 396, 398, 401, 460, 642, 826, II-189 Dunglison: [notes it is a "vulgar" term for pneumonia.] Foster: "Acute pneumonia" Fever, Acute Nerve[?] 472 Foster: (Nervous Fever): "Any fever characterized by decided derangement of the nervous system, especially typhus fever and typhoid fever." ILCOD: "Nervous Fever" is listed as an "ill defined" term. "Ovarian Fever" 118 Fever, Puerperal 332, 485, 491 Dunglison: "This name has been given to several acute diseases, supervening on delivery. It means, generally, a malignant variety of peritonitis, which runs its course very rapidly, and passes into a typhoid condition... By the generality of practitioners, it is esteemed to be eminently contagious; some, however, deny that it is so." Fever, Remittent 94, 98, 802 Dunglison: "one which strikingly exacerbates and remits, but without intermission. The ordinary bilious fever of the United States is a simple remittent." Foster: "A form of malarial fever..." Fever, Rheumatic 439, 449 Dunglison: (Acute Rheumatism) "usually comes on with the ordinary symptoms of a fever; soon after which, or simultaneously, or even before the appearance of febrile signs, excruciating pains are felt in different parts of the body" Fever, Scarlet 107, 263, 283 "Southern Fever" 34, 139?, 474, 693, II-26, II-148 [I was not able to find any reference to this term in any old or new medical texts, however it should be noted that the same disease the Gazette called "Southern Fever", the town clerk recorded (in #34, #139(?), and #693) as "Remittent Fever", "Bilious Remittent Fever" (? See remark in 139.), and "Cholera Infantum".] "Swamp Fever" 665, 667 ["Marsh Fever" was a synonym for malaria. Perhaps "Swamp Fever" has a similar meaning? There is also an infectious horse disease called "Swamp Fever."] Fever, Typhoid Count = 36 (40) 133, 178, 336, 337, 373, 376, 397, 403, 442, 524, 525, 526, 538, 550, 579, 580, 595, 604, 616, 618, 621, 641, 700, 716, 718, 725, 731, 732, 733, 734, 750, 759, 768, 769, 781, 794, II-29, II-30, II-32, II-71, F-7 Blakiston: "1) An old term for any condition resembling typhus." McGrew: [Notes that it is difficult to distinguish from other enteric fevers, and was commonly confused with typhus, hepatitis, and tuberculosis.] Fever, Typhus 321, 346, 563, 575 Fever, Yellow Count = 8 (9) [8 were mariners] 238, 254, 323, 386, 494, 572, 638, 873, II-28 Foster: "An acute infectious fever occurring endemically in the West India islands and Central and South America during the warm months." Finger, wound in 61 "Firachitis [?]" 686 Fit, Died in a 51, 430 Fits 62, 108, 362, 741 [All aged five and under] Foot, Inflammation in 40 Found Dead 650 Fracture of Hip Joint 808 Fracture of Right Thigh spontaneously 562 (2nd) Fracture of Skull 664, 746, 807 Fracture of Thigh 630 Fracture of Thighs 442 (2nd) Gastro Hepatitis 490 Gastritis 869 ILCOD: List of Undesirable Terms: "Frequently worthless as a statement of the actual cause of death; the term should not be loosely used to cover almost any fatal affection with irritation of stomach." General Debility 694, 774, 867 [All aged 52 and over] ILCOD: List of Undesirable Terms: "Frequently cover[s] tuberculosis and other definite causes." Head, Dropsy of the 469 [Hydrocephalus] See Brain, Dropsy of the. Heart Disease Count = 28 (29) [15 are aged 70 and over.] 38, 48, 130, 223, 228, 229, 271, 285, 313, 325, 328, 378, 393, 435, 437, 462, 485, 495, 626, 735, 764, 791, 828, 832, 835, 849, 854, 855, II-145, F-51 Heart, Dropsy of the 763, 671 Heart, Enlargement of 705 Heart, Hypertrophy of 661, 880 Hepatitis 685 Hemiplegia Paralysis 701 Hemorrhage 117, 576, 762 ILCOD: List of Undesirable Terms: "Frequently mask tuberculosis or deaths from injuries ... " Hip, Disease of 440 Hyctriephalus[?] [or Hyctruphalus?] 248 [Perhaps "hydrocephalus"?] "Inamonia" 553 [Perhaps "Pneumonia"?] Infantile 84 Inflamd. "Boun"[?] 862 Inflammation 234, 710, 729 ILCOD: List of Undesirable Terms: "Of what organ or part of the body? Cause?" Influenza 858, 861 Insanity 678, 775 Intemperance 461 Internal Bruise 619 Internal Injury 331 "Iuanition"[?] 482 Jaundice 473 "Juanition"[?] 482 Kidney, "Caullr"[?] of 562 Kidney, Chronic Disease of 744 Kidney, Disease of 489 Kidney, Inflammation of 738, 822 "Labis Mesartenia"[?] 510 Labour 644 Leucocythaemia 651 Lightning, Killed by 53, 54 Lithiasis 342 Liver complaint 754 Liver, Disease of 105 (dup.) Lost at sea Count = 12 (14) (presumably all mariners) 278, 387, 388, 389, 390, 428, 429, 531, 532, 646, 647, 648, II-24, II-47, II-128 Lunatic 97 Lungs, Congestion of 541, 810, II-87 Dunglison: (Stethaemia): "Congestion or accumulation of blood in the pulmonary vessels." Lungs, Disease of 349 Lungs, "Emplnia"[?] 338 Lungs, Inflammation of 412, 706, 818, 870? Malignant Pustule 75 Dunglison: "Anthrax." "Mamisson" 625 Marasmus 335, 710 ILCOD: List of Undesirable Terms: "This term covers a multitude of worthless returns, many of which could be made definite and useful by giving the name of the disease causing the 'marasmus' or wasting." "Mavian" Dropsy 465 Measles 450 Melancholia Exhaustion 789 Meningitis, Acute 314 Meningitis 587 Metroperitonitis 456 Murdered 322, 533 Nephritis Albuminosa 508 No Medical Attendance 430 (2nd), 570, 577, 652, 662, 663 "Oiliwry" Duct, Obstruction of 748 Old Age Count = 60 [All aged 74 and older] 41, 44, 76, 82, 83, 87, 103, 114, 132, 147, 148, 154, 158, 184, 186, 187, 213, 217, 253, 267, 312, 321 (2nd), 324, 420, 478, 511, 512, 513, 520, 523, 537, 543, 561, 566, 588, 599, 623, 636, 639, 656, 659, 669, 672, 677, 682, 689, 696, 701, 703, 713, 747, 757, 765, 766, 770, 790, 821, 838, 853, 856 "Otovibocar Meumegitis" 554 Ovarian cyst 431 Ovarian Dropsy 214 Palsy Count = 4 (5) [All age 61 and older] 152, 369, 514, 655, F-8 Dunglison: "Paralysis." ILCOD: List of Undesirable Terms: "The vague use of these terms should be avoided, and the precise form stated ... " Paralysis Count = 11 [10 are aged 53 and older] 159?, 190, 329 (2nd), 509, 530, 707, 761, 778, 811, 834, 883 Dunglison: "The immediate cause is, generally, pressure, either by blood effused, or by serum, or by vascular turgescence. At its onset, therefore, blood-letting may be advisable; but, afterwards, the disease becomes one of nervous debility, and requires stimulants to the paralyzed parts, or the mucous membranes." ILCOD: List of Undesirable Terms: "The vague use of these terms should be avoided, and the precise form stated ... " Paraplegia 824 Parturition 583 "Parisigs Similis" Exhaustion 752 "Penearctitis" 517 "Penomisa"[?] Abscess 830 Pericarditis 556 Peritonitis 792 Peritonitis, Adynamic 434 Phrenitis 594 See Fever, Brain. Phthisis Count = 14 185, 239, 419, 423, 426, 446, 527, 539, 565, 578, 590, 593, 851, 875 Foster: "1) Any wasting, atrophic process. 2) As usually employed, pulmonary 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 Pulmonalis Count = 9 106 (dup.), 115, 135, 515, 649, 674, 688, 699, 711 Dunglison: "Occasionally, this formidable disease occurs accidently; but, usually, it is caused by a conformation obtained from progenitors. This, at least, predisposes to it; and but a slight exciting cause may be required to rouse the predisposition into action." Foster: "Pulmonary Tuberculosis" "Plelluoalis"[?] 500 (2nd) "Plemitis" 425 Pleurisy 352, 622 Pleurisy, Chronic 196 Pleurisy "Clorine"[?] 798 Pleuro Pneumonia 432 Pneumonia count = 13 109 (dup.), 161, 164, 441, 446 (2nd), 448, 451, 468, 486, 633, 681, 692, 726, 777 Dunglison: "The most active treatment is of course necessary. General bleeding forms the sheet anchor, - employed so as to make a decided impression on the system, and repeated, if necessary; local bloodletting; nauseating doses of antimonials; purgatives; and when the violence of the inflammation has been got under, - counterirritants, &c." Premature birth 15 Puerperal anaemia 74 Puerperal Convulsions 225 Purpura 188 (dup.) Dunglison: "It generally means livid spots on the skin from extravasated blood, with languor or loss of muscular strength, and pain in the limbs." Pulmonary Oedema, Acute 208 Pulmonary Tuberculous 799 Railroad car, Killed by 567 Retention of Urine 111, 564, 679 [All men aged 53 and older] Rheumatism 837 Rheumatism, Acute 182 Rheumatism, Chronic 39, 603 Rupture 45 Foster: "A popular term for hernia." Scald 175 Scarlatina 643, 657, 872 (all aged 8 and under) Scrofula 714, 783 Scurvy 721 Scurvy, Land 188 Foster: "Scurvy occurring among landsmen." Senectus Ultima 436 Dunglison: "Decrepitude." "Sentams"[?], Dropsy of 571 "Sephritis Hllums"[?] 518 Shot himself 697 Shot II-78, II-136 Shot, Pistol 841 Smallpox 405, II-167 Smoking Tobacco 500 Spleen, Enlargement of 137 Stillborn count = 23 (30) 63, 64, 77, 79, 81, 101, 102, 119, 123, 138, 145, 146, 215, 224, 227, 320, 407, 534, 586, 589, 675, 836, 844, II-38, II-41, II-42, II-43, II-44, II-118, II-161 Stomach, Chronic Inflammation of 503 Stomach, Cramp of 779 Stomach, Hemorrhage from 93 Stomach, Inflammation of 257 Stomach, Ulceration of 492 Struck by fore Boom 427 "Suanition"[?] 482 "Sucite"[?] Gangrene 540 [Perhaps "Senile Gangrene"?? Blakiston describes it as a dry gangrene common among the elderly with arteriosclerosis.] Suddenly 136 ILCOD: Listed as an "ill defined" term. Suicide 216 Tetanus 443 Throat, Inflammation of 100 "Tschunia renatis" 455 "Tuberclis" 608 [Perhaps "Tuberculosis"?] Tumor 860 Typhoid Pneumonia 730 ILCOD: List of Undesirable Terms: "The term 'Typhoid pneumonia' should never be employed, as it may mean either Enteric Fever (Typhoid Fever) with pulmonary complications, on the one hand, or Pneumonia with so-called typhoid symptoms on the other." Typhoides, "Depenlina" 522 Typhoides, "Depentira" 528 Unknown Count = 25 153, 155, 170, 191, 194, 195, 206, 252, 258, 259, 260, 261, 277, 327, 454, 457, 459, 463, 496, 497, 519, 521, 660, 683, 691 Whooping Cough 129, 250 Womb, Hemorrhage from the 749 Wounds received in battle II-186, II-101, II-105