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The Very Big List Of  Old West Maladies

The ailments of the early American West seemed like a good reason to want to be born a century later. For the hypochondriacs and very impressionable viewers out there ... you might want to skip this page.

In the days of Melodrama in the Old West, physicians were scarce and poorly educated. Treatments was often based on the now-discredited theory of the four bodily humors that had to be kept in balance. These might include such treatments as bleeding (sometimes using live leeches), cold baths, blistering agents, and other remedies that were worse than the ailments that they were meant to treat! Phrenology was considered a science where the reading of bumps on a head could be used as evidence as to what might "ail" you. Deadly epidemics such as cholera, malaria, scurvy, and typhoid swept across the old West, compounded by potentially fatal illnesses like diphtheria, fevers, influenza, smallpox, and tuberculosis. Some old-fashioned names for diseases even sounded worse than modern desctiptions. Today routine childhood immunizations have nearly erased many of the diseases on this list below - like diphtheria which once was a tragic illness and now there are less than five cases here a year in the US.

Many people placed their faith in patent medicines, pitched by traveling "snake oil" salesmen who never failed to entertain the crowds before offering their cure-alls. Your could hear the salesman say ... Step right up ladies and gentlemen "Our unrivaled elixir can cure all the ills of man or beast including ..."

 

 

ABSCESS

A localized collection of pus buried in tissues, organs, or confined spaces of the body, often accompanied by swelling and inflammation and frequently caused by bacteria.

 

ABLEPSY

Blindness

 

ACUTE MANIA

Severe insanity

 

ADDISON'S DISEASE

A disease characterized by severe weakness, low blood pressure, and a bronzed coloration of the skin, due to decreased secretion of cortisol from the adrenal gland. Also known as bronzed skin disease. Not to be confused with Brown Dropsy which is an inability to process metals in food.

 

AGUE

Used to define the recurring fever & chills of malarial infection.

 

AMERICAN PLAGUE

Yellow fever

 

ANASARCA

Generalized massive edema (swelling)

 

APHONIA

Laryngitis

 

APHTHA

Thrush

 

APOPLEXY

Paralysis due to stroke

 

ASPHYCSIA/ASPHICSIA

Cyanotic and lack of oxygen

 

ATROPHY

Wasting away (generally from lack of use, i.e. muscles)

 

BILIOUS FEVER

Typhoid, malaria, hepatitis

 

BILIOUSNESS

Jaundice or other symptoms associated with liver disease; may also have been any upset leading to vomiting bile or just vomiting.

 

BLACK FEVER

Acute infection with high temperature and dark red skin lesions and high mortality rate

 

BLACK JAUNDICE

Wiel's Disease; Black Water fever (deadly form of malaria)

 

BLACK PLAGUE OR DEATH

Bubonic plague

 

BLACK POX

Black Smallpox

 

BLACKWATER FEVER

Dark urine associated with high temperature (deadly form of malaria)

 

BLADDER IN THROAT

Diphtheria (not certain but a best guess)

 

BLOOD POISONING

Bacterial infection; septicemia

 

BONE SHAVE

Sciatica

 

BRAIN FEVER

Meningitis

 

BREAKBONE

Dengue fever

 

BRIGHT'S DISEASE

Chronic inflammatory disease of kidneys

 

BRONZE JOHN

Yellow fever

 

BRUCELLOSIS

Humans become infected by coming in contact with animals or animal products that are contaminated with these bacteria. In humans’ brucellosis can cause a range of symptoms that are similar to the flu and may include fever, sweats, headaches, back pains, and physical weakness. - MILK FEVER

 

BULE

Boil, tumor or swelling.

 

CACHEXY

Malnutrition

 

CACOGASTRIC

Upset stomach.

 

CACOSPYSY

Irregular pulse

 

CADUCEUS

Subject to falling sickness or epilepsy.

 

CAMP FEVER

Typhus; aka Camp diarrhea

 

CANINE MADNESS

Rabies, hydrophobia

 

CANKER

Ulceration of mouth or lips or herpes simplex

 

CATALEPSY

Seizures / trances

 

CATARRHAL

Nose and throat discharge from cold or allergy

 

CEREBRITIS

Inflammation of cerebrum or lead poisoning

 

CHILBLAIN

Swelling of extremities caused by exposure to cold.

 

CHIN COUGH

Whooping cough

 

CHLOROSIS

Iron deficiency anemia; leukemia

 

CHOLECYSTITUS

Inflammation of the gall bladder

 

CHOLELITHIASIS

Gall stones

 

CHOLERA

Acute severe contagious diarrhea with intestinal lining sloughing

 

CHOLERA MORBUS

Characterized by nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, elevated temperature, etc. Could have been a misdiagnosis of a case of appendicitis.

 

CHOREA

Disease characterized by convulsions, contortions and dancing

 

COLD PLAGUE

Ague which is characterized by chills

 

COLIC

An abdominal pain and cramping

 

COMMOTION

Concussion

 

CONGESTION

Any collection of fluid in an organ, like the lungs

 

CONGESTIVE CHILLS

Malaria

  

CONGESTIVE FEVER

Malaria

 

CONSUMPTION

Tuberculosis; Wasting sickness

 

CORRUPTION

Infection

 

CORYZA

A cold

 

COSTIVENESS

Constipation

 

CRAMP COLIC

Appendicitis

 

CROP SICKNESS

Overextended stomach

 

CROUP

Laryngitis, diphtheria, or strep throat

 

CYANOSIS

Dark skin color from lack of oxygen in blood

 

CYNANCHE

Diseases of throat

 

CYSTITIS

Inflammation of the bladder

 

DAY FEVER

Fever lasting one day; sweating sickness

 

DEBILITY

Lack of movement or staying in bed

 

DECREPITUDE

Feebleness due to old age

 

DELIRIUM TREMENS

Hallucinations due to alcoholism

 

DENGUE

Infectious fever endemic to East Africa

 

DENTITION

Cutting of teeth

 

DEPLUMATION

Tumor of the eyelids which causes hair loss

 

DIARY FEVER

A fever that lasts one day

 

DIPTHERIA

Contagious disease of the throat

 

DISTEMPER

Usually animal disease with malaise, discharge from nose and throat, anorexia

 

DOCK FEVER

Yellow fever

 

DROPSY

Edema (swelling), often caused by kidney or heart disease

 

DROPSY OF THE BRAIN

Encephalitis

 

DRY BELLYACHE

Lead poisoning

 

DYSCRASY

An abnormal body condition (usually with the blood)

 

DYSENTERY

Inflammation of colon with frequent passage of mucous and blood

 

DYSOREXY

Reduced appetite

 

DYSPEPSIA

Indigestion and a gnawing or burning stomach pain with Bloating and Heartburn connected also with Heart attack symptoms

 

DYSURY

Difficulty in urination

  

EDEMA

Nephrosis; swelling of tissues

 

EDEMA OF LUNGS

Congestive heart failure, a form of dropsy

 

EEL THING

Erysipelas

 

ELEPHANTIASIS

A form of leprosy

 

ENCEPHALITIS

Swelling of brain; aka sleeping sickness

 

ENTERIC FEVER

Typhoid fever

 

ENTERITIS

Inflations of the bowels

 

ENTEROCOLITIS

Inflammation of the intestines

 

EPITAXIS

Simply it is a nose bleed

 

ERYSIPELAS

Contagious skin disease, due to Streptococci with vesicular and bulbous lesions it is caused by group A B-hemolytic streptococcus bacteria..

 

FALLING SICKNESS

Epilepsy

 

FATTY LIVER

Cirrhosis of liver

 

FITS

Sudden attack or seizure of muscle activity

 

FLUX

An excessive flow or discharge of fluid like hemorrhage or diarrhea

 

FLUX OF HUMOUR

Circulation

 

GATHERING

A collection of pus

 

GLANDULAR FEVER

Mononucleosis

 

GOUT

An inflammation usually of an extremity

  

GREEN FEVER / SICKNESS

Anemia

 

GRIPPE/GRIP

Influenza like symptoms

 

GROCER'S ITCH

Skin disease caused by mites in sugar or flour

 

HALLUCINATION

Delirium

 

HEART SICKNESS

Condition caused by loss of salt from body

 

HEAT STROKE

Body temperature elevates because of surrounding environment temperature and body does not perspire to reduce heat. Coma and death could result.

 

HECTICAL COMPLAINT

Recurrent fever

 

HEMIPLEGY

Paralysis of one side of body

 

HIP GOUT

Osteomyelitis, a staph infection

 

HORRORS

Delirium tremens

 

HYDROCEPHALUS

Enlarged head, water on the brain

 

HYDROPERICARDIUM

Heart dropsy

 

HYDROPHOBIA

Rabies

 

HYDROTHROAX

Dropsy in chest

 

HYPERTROPHIC

Enlargement of organ, like the heart

 

IMPETIGO

Contagious skin disease characterized by pustules

 

INANITION

Physical condition resulting from lack of food

 

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Polio

 

INTESTINAL COLIC

Abdominal pain due to improper diet

 

JAIL FEVER

Typhus

 

JAUNDICE

Condition caused by blockage of intestines

 

KING'S EVIL

Scrofula, a tubercular infection of the throat lymph glands (also syphilis)

 

KRUCHHUSTEN

Whooping cough

 

LA GRIPPE

Flu or influenza

 

LOCKJAW

Tetanus or infectious disease affecting the muscles of the neck and jaw. Untreated, it can be fatal in as few as 8 days

 

LONG SICKNESS

Tuberculosis

  

LUMBAGO

Back pain

 

LUNG FEVER

Pneumonia

 

LUNG SICKNESS

Tuberculosis

 

MALIGNANT SORE THROAT

Diphtheria

 

MANIA

Insanity

 

MARASMUS

Progressive wasting away of body, like malnutrition

 

MEMBRANOUS CROUP

Diphtheria

 

MENINGITIS

Inflations of brain or spinal cord

 

METRITIS

Inflammation of uterus or purulent vaginal discharge

 

MIASMA

Poisonous vapors thought to infect the air

 

MILK FEVER

Disease from drinking contaminated milk, like undulant fever or brucellosis

 

MILK LEG

Phlebitis; a painful swelling of the leg soon after childbirth, due to thrombosis of the large veins; Painful swelling of the leg beginning at the ankle and ascending or at the groin and extending down the thigh... its usual cause is infection after labor; Postpartum thrombophlebitis

 

MILK SICKNESS

Disease from milk of cattle which had eaten poisonous weeds

 

MORMAL

Gangrene

 

MORPHEW

Scurvy blisters on the body

 

MORTIFICATION

Gangrene of necrotic tissue; Infection

 

MYELITIS

Inflammation of the spine

 

MYOCARDITIS

Inflammation of heart muscles

 

NECROSIS

Mortification of bones or tissue

 

NEPHROSIS

Kidney degeneration

 

NEPRITIS

Inflammation of kidneys

 

NERVOUS PROSTRATION

Extreme exhaustion from inability to control physical and mental activities

 

NEURALGIA

Described as discomfort, such as "Headache" was neuralgia in in your head

 

NOSTALGIA

Homesickness

 

PALSY

Paralysis or uncontrolled movement of controlled muscles.

 

PAROXYSM

Convulsion

 

PEMPHIGUS

Skin disease of watery blisters

 

PERICARDITIS

Inflammation of heart

 

PERIPNEUMONIA

Inflammation of lungs

 

PERITONOTIS

Inflammation of abdominal area

 

PETECHIAL FEVER

Fever characterized by skin spotting

 

PHLEGMASIA ALBA DOLENS

Milk Leg - Painful thrombosis of the femoral vein in the leg following childbirth

 

PHTHIRIASIS

Lice

 

PHTHISIS

Chronic wasting away or a name for tuberculosis

 

PLAGUE

An acute febrile highly infectious disease with a high fatality rate

 

PLEURISY

Any pain in the chest area with each breath

 

PODAGRA

Gout

 

POTT'S DISEASE

Tuberculosis of spine

 

PROTEIN DISEASE

Gomerulonephritis; a once relatively common childhood kidney disease that causes the kidney to leak protein. This is a secondary (allergic) reaction to certain kinds of strep infections. Now very uncommon ... go figure.

  

PUKING FEVER

Milk sickness

 

PUTRID FEVER

Diphtheria.

 

QUINSY

Tonsillitis.

 

REMITTING FEVER

Malaria

 

RHEUMATISM

Any disorder associated with pain in joints

 

RICKETS

Disease of skeletal system

 

ROSE COLD

Hay fever or nasal symptoms of an allergy

 

RUBEOLA

German measles

 

SANGUINEOUS CRUST

Scab

 

SCARLATINA

Scarlet fever

 

SCARLET FEVER

A disease characterized by red rash

 

SCARLET RASH

An old west alternative for Roseola

 

SCIATICA

Rheumatism in the hips

 

SCIRRHUS

Cancerous tumors

 

SCOTOMY

Dizziness, nausea and dimness of sight

  

SCRIVENER'S PALSY

Writer's cramp

 

SCROFULA

Tuberculosis of neck lymph glands. Progresses slowly with abscesses and pustules develop. Young person's disease

 

SCRUMPOX

Skin disease, impetigo

 

SCURVY

Lack of vitamin C. Symptoms of weakness, spongy gums and hemorrhages under skin

 

SEPTICEMIA

Blood poisoning

 

SHAKES

Delirium tremens

 

SHAKING

Chills or ague

 

SHINGLES

Viral disease with skin blisters resulting from the Chicken Pox virus

 

SHIP FEVER

Typhus

 

SIRIASIS

Inflammation of the brain due to sun exposure

 

SLOES

Milk sickness

 

SMALLPOX

Contagious disease with fever and blisters

  

SORE THROAT DISTEMPER

Diphtheria or quinsy

 

SPASMS

Sudden involuntary contraction of muscle or group of muscles, like a convulsion

 

SPINA BIFIDA

Deformity of spine

 

SPOTTED FEVER

Either typhus or meningitis

 

SPRUE

Tropical disease characterized by intestinal disorders and sore throat

 

ST. ANTHONY'S FIRE

Also, erysipelas, but named so because of affected skin areas are bright red in appearance

 

ST. VITAS DANCE

Ceaseless occurrence of involuntary rapid complex jerking movements.

 

STOMATITIS

Inflammation of the mouth

 

STRANGER'S FEVER

Yellow fever

 

STRANGERY

Rupture

 

SUDOR ANGLICUS

Sweating sickness

  

SUNSTROKE

Uncontrolled elevation of body temperature due to environment heat. Lack of sodium in the body is a predisposing cause

 

SWAMP SICKNESS

Could be malaria, typhoid or encephalitis 

 

THROMBOSIS

Blood clot inside blood vessel

 

THRUSH

Childhood disease characterized by spots on mouth, lips and throat

 

TICK FEVER

Rocky Mountain spotted fever

 

TUSSIS CONVULSIVA

Whooping cough

 

TYPHUS

Infectious fever characterized high fever, headache, and dizziness

 

VARIOLA

Smallpox

 

VENESECTION

Bleeding

 

VIPER'S DANCE

St. Vitus Dance

   

WINTER FEVER

Pneumonia

  

WORM FIT

Convulsions associated with teething, worms, elevated temperature or diarrhea

 

YELLOWJACKET

Another old west term for Yellow Fever.

  

Here is one link to learn more about the most common ailments of the old west: https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/illnesses-ailments-diseases-history-nameshttps://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/illnesses-ailments-diseases-history-names

OLD-WEST 'ELIXIRS'  AND MEDICINE SHOWS

Most of these medicines were at best harmless (unless you might be using heavy machinery). Many actually contained generous quantities of alcohol, opium, or cocaine, ensuring a quick feeling of well-being for first-time customers, followed by the possibility of habitual use. These medicines were widely advertised in magazines, newspapers, mail order catalogs, storefronts, on fence posts, and even barn roofs. These nostrums were pitched far and wide, but no promotion could beat the hoopla of a traveling medicine show. These shows featured music, comedy, juggling, and overblown rhetoric mixed with testimonials and stunts to demonstrate cures. Admission was free, with the performers making a living from the sale of cure-alls and a few assorted other items. The masters of ceremonies would usually add the title of "Doctor" or "Professor" to their names to give themselves a recognizable sense of liquidity.

There was Dr. Kilmer's Swamp Root, Dr. Hercules Sanche's Oxydonor Balm of Gilead, Mullen's Liniment, Rite Wate Fat Reducer compound that promised a safe way to a slender healthy figure, Trilene tablets for all fat people, Hamlin's Wizard Oil Pain Remedy, Simmon's Liver Regulator, Pink Pills for Pale People, and of course Dr. J. Millers vegetable expectorant ... invaluable for all lung troubles. Few of these "cures" actually healed and many didn’t contain promised ingredients, for example:

 

VITAL SPARKS -

Which promised to revitalize masculine virility, It was nothing more than a concoction made by rolling rock candy in powdered aloe.

TIGER FAT -

A cure-all balm reportedly made from Royal Bengal tiger backbone, was in reality concocted of Vaseline, camphor, menthol and other aromatic oils.

NERVINE -

A purported nerve sedative, had alcohol as its main ingredient (and lots of it). It advertised a cure for nervousness, indigestion, irritability, seasickness and sleeplessness.

KA-TON-KA -

A medicine purportedly made from Indian herbs by the Modoc and Nez Perce Indian tribes. In reality, it was made in Pennsylvania, and simply contained a modicum of alcohol, sugar, aloes and baking soda.

PROFESSOR MACK'S MIRACLE ELIXIR OF LIFE -

A Medicine that could purportedly cure just about anything that might afflict you. In reality a concentrated black tea extract with herbs and tree bark extract. Since the bark was from the white willow variety the concoction contained naturally occurring salicylic acid which modern day aspirin owes it heritage. And the tannins in the black tea had several calming benefits for the stomach and even if applied topically. So, in comparison to the rest of the elixirs ... Professor Mack almost got it right. It also contained 12% distilled alcohol which explained its popularity and why people kept buying the elixir even though their maladies persisted. Produced until the Professor's disappearance in 1910.

By the early 1900s, suspicion was rising about the value of these nostrums and so called "Elixirs". And so the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was established in the 1920s to regulate the nation’s drug industry and Medicine Show became a thing of the past.

The golden age of Medicine Shows took advantage of a receptive, unsophisticated public who may have been awed by legitimate scientific discoveries of the time. People such as Thomas Edison, Alexander Bell and Madame Curie had stirred the public’s dreams for inventions that would make daily life easier. If you looked at the "medical journals" of the time you would be barraged with recommended cures for maladies that have all but vanished in this 20th century.