Random Bizarre Old-Fashioned Medical Terms, From Miner's Anemia to Blackwater Fever: (24 items)

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  (#1) Bad Blood

  An STI that’s also a horrible bacterial infection, syphilis leads to sores all over the body followed by fever-like symptoms. More horribly, it can eat away at tissue throughout the body, including often the nose and mouth - erosion of the nose and mouth was often a sign of the disease. Syphilis also attacks internal organs, often with deadly results.

  In the 1930s, a syphilis control study was done in Macon County, Alabama. Doctors were doing tests on the predominantly African American community under the guise of testing people for “bad blood” so as not to alarm anyone, and the term eventually became a colloquial name for syphilis.
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  (#2) Canine Madness

  An old term for rabies, "canine madness" is one of the more logical antiquated medical terms. People were often infected through dog bites, after all. Rabies infects the central nervous system and induces fever, headache, anxiety, agitation, hyper salivation, and even hydrophobia (fear of water). Without treatment, the virus is fatal.

  Today, however, there is a vaccine that is 100% effective against rabies if treatment begins immediately. 
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  (#3) American Plague

  In 1793, yellow fever broke out in Philadelphia. A disease that turns your skin yellow as it shuts down your liver and kidneys, it can lead to internal bleeding and bloody vomit that can be fatal. The epidemic led to around 5,000 deaths and for a time, the virus became known as the "American plague."

  What would the American plague be today? Probably awesome superhero movies. Or ignorance. One of the two.  
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  (#4) Softening of the Brain

  In the 1800s, doctors used more... descriptive and informal terms for various medical conditions. Now called encephalomalacia, "softening of the brain" refers to a degeneration of brain tissue that is the result of a lack of blood flow to the brain, often due to a hemorrhage. This causes the brain tissue to become spongy and soft.

  Kind of like when you watch Netflix for six hours straight. 
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  (#5) Falling Sickness

  While you may have guessed vertigo, "falling sickness" is actually an archaic term for epilepsy. Epilepsy is known for inducing sudden seizures, especially when the affected individual is exposed to certain stimuli such as flashing lights. These seizures often result in the patient collapsing - hence, epilepsy used to be known as the “falling sickness.”

  Not even Jennifer Lawrence could make that kind of falling adorable. 
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  (#6) Black Vomit

  A term coined by doctors when patients had very dark vomit discolored by large quantities of blood, the malady came from bleeding in the upper digestive tract, most likely caused by a damaged ulcer or internal trauma. Black vomit also been known to be caused by yellow fever - or any night involving staggering amounts of tequila.  
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  (#7) Corruption

  Really, "corruption" is just an old-timey name for a difficult bacterial infection. It’s easy to see why infections of the flesh earned this nickname, as the afflicted area would certainly appear to be rotting and falling apart. 
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  (#8) Blackwater Fever

  Actually a complication of malaria, blackwater fever got its name from patients who had dark red or black urine. The color comes from hemoglobin in the urine, which is due to malaria destroying the patient’s red blood cells. The only way to cure it is to treat the underlying malaria and allow the patient to rest.

  Not that it would be that hard to convince them to take it easy after they'd been peeing concentrated evil for a few weeks.
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  (#9) King’s Evil

  There was a belief during the Middle Ages that French or English royalty could cure a disease called “king’s evil,” otherwise known as “scrofula,” with a single touch. Today, we know that scrofula (a swelling of the glands) is actually just a symptom of tuberculosis and that a touch would do nothing to help.

  Still, one can never underestimate the power of the placebo effect, especially for desperately ill people. 
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  (#10) Blood Poisoning

  Now known as sepsis, "blood poisoning" is an incredibly serious condition that occurs when bacteria infect the bloodstream (actual poison has nothing to do with it). Sepsis induces a high fever, chills, and rapid heart rate in patients and is easily fatal if not treated quickly. It also makes your veins look hella gross. 
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  (#11) Chlorosis

  Seen a great deal in young women of the 19th century, chlorosis mainly consisted of anemia and menstrual disorders. It was also said to turn the skin green, but there are some disputes as to the validity of that claim. Eventually, it was discovered that the symptoms were really just a combination of iron deficiency and adverse social conditions. By the 20th century, the disease had disappeared completely.
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  (#12) Congestive Chills

  Really just an old name for malaria, which induces intense fever and chills in its victims. The term has been seen written on old death certificates. 
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  (#13) Consumption

  A classic name for tuberculosis, though scientists didn’t know that it was a specific disease at the time; instead, they used the term any time a sick person appeared to be consumed from the inside. Caused by bacteria, TB really did act as a wasting disease. The victim loses weight and gets sicker and sicker until they eventually die, thus making the nickname pretty spot-on.

  Way to go, archaic doctors! Now go on and figure out that phrenology isn't real.  
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  (#14) Cramp Colic

  Cramp colic is known to us today as appendicitis, a condition where the appendix becomes inflamed and filled with pus. The word “cramp” is pretty self-explanatory, but “colic” comes from a term used for healthy babies that still suddenly cry out in pain - so, basically, cramp colic means sudden and violent cramps that cause you to cry out for no visible reason. 
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  (#15) Fits

  An old name for seizures, the “fits” are actually a disturbance in the electrical activity in the brain. Some symptoms include convulsions and a loss of consciousness. Seizures are often, but not always, tied to an epileptic condition. Nowadays, "fits" are reserved for children and exhausting Wii games.   
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  (#16) Brain Fever

  This has to be one of the most ominously-named entries that still sounds pretty stupid. "Brain fever" is a condition that sees swelling of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It comes from an infection of the fluid surrounding those parts of the nervous system by a virus or bacteria, but it can also be caused by cancer or a reaction to certain drugs.

  Now known as meningitis, it leads to the patient suffering fever, headache, bouts of confusion, and the inability to tolerate intense sensory stimulation. But hey, at least it doesn't sound like a 13-year-old's excuse to get out of math class anymore.  
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  (#17) Glandular Fever

  More commonly known as mononucleosis or “mono,” it’s a pretty nasty disease that can leave people literally bed-ridden for months. Its symptoms include a high fever, extremely sore throat, intense fatigue, and very swollen glands – hence the original name.

  It can also be spread by saliva. This is common enough that mononucleosis is also known as the “kissing disease.” That sounds way more romantic than it should.
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  (#18) Lockjaw

  "Lockjaw" is another name for tetanus, which you probably got a shot for when you were a child (unless your mother happens to be Jenny McCarthy). It’s caused by a bacterial infection present in soil, manure, or rusted metal. Its symptoms include muscle stiffness in the jaw (hence the name), and spasms.

  If left untreated, it can lead to death. It would also be a pretty badass name for a speed metal band.  
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  (#19) Morphew

  Scurvy is a disease often suffered by sailors due to their lack of eating fruit. A deficiency of vitamin C leads to bleeding mucous membranes, teeth falling out, and blisters on the skin. Those blisters were called “morphew.” 
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  (#20) Podagra

  A Greek word which translates to “foot trap,” podagra is really just another word for gout. The disease affects the base of the big toe and is caused by too much uric acid in the blood, which crystallizes and embeds itself in joints. The joints then become inflamed, which makes mobility limited and painful. Formerly called "the disease of Kkings,"gout is often associated with obesity and the consumption of rich foods.

  Robert Baratheon from Game of Thrones, before he was boared to death, was probably well on his way to contracting gout.   
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  (#21) Rising of the Lights

  Another name for croup, "rising of the lights" is a condition that causes swelling and irritation in the upper airways. It’s caused by the same virus as the common cold. It typically leads to a cough that sounds like a dog barking, and usually hits children who are six months to three years old.

  “Lights” was an old term for an animal’s lungs, so the nickname was earned through the canine cough. DMX would probably pay good money to contract croup.  
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  (#22) Gravel

  Just another name for kidney stones, which develop when certain substances such as calcium and uric acid build up in the urine. These substances crystallize and gradually increase in size to form a kidney stone.

  “Gravel” was a name for smaller kidney stones that you’d pass. The imagery is so simple, so elegant, it really speaks for itself. Also, ouch! 
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  (#23) Miner’s Anemia

  Also known as “tunnel’s disease,” miner’s anemia is a disease caused by hookworms and has the scientific name ancylostomiasis. Miners are infected by these parasitic worms in the tunnels, which can infect the skin, eyes, or intestines. Pretty gross, right? Yet another reason to avoid coal mining.  
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  (#24) Catarrhus

  Basically, it’s an old-fashioned term for a head cold. It refers to the inflammation and mucous build up in your nasal passages that happens when you have a cold. The word derives from the Latin catarrh, which roughly translates to “inflammation.”

   Not to be confused with any life-changing revelations you might have while enjoying awesome articles like this one. That's "catharsis." 

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