The Six Common Deadly Illnesses of Soldiers in the Civil War: Dysentery, Typhoid Fever, Measles, Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, and Malaria

The Civil War had more fatalities than all previous wars combined. Most people assume that those soldiers in the Civil War died of wounds or amputations, yet the reality is that most died from typical diseases to which they had never been exposed. Disease caused ten times as many soldiers’ deaths as those who died in battle or from wounds (Heidler 1303). Although various diseases killed soldiers, there were six typical ones.

Dysentery was considered the worst and most severe of all the diseases.

Dysentery is an intestinal infection most commonly caused by bacteria or parasites. It is identified by diarrhea containing blood, pus, and mucus. There are two types of dysentery. One is amoebic dysentery or intestinal amoebiasis, caused by a parasite in the large intestine. The other kind is bacillary dysentery, caused by an invasive micro-organism (Thomas 1). The causes of dysentery are parasites and bacteria. Some of the symptoms include cramps, bloating, fevers, and approximately three to eight stools a day. These symptoms are not merely limited to mild cases.

In severe cases, additional symptoms include pain when touching the abdomen, ten or more stools a day, nausea, and vomiting. Weight loss is also common. Although there are numerous symptoms, they vary based on the severity, for example, a soldier could progress from simply having abdominal pain to enduring chronic diarrhea. The symptoms typically surface around seven to twenty-eight days after the infection has occurred (Thomas 2). During the Civil War, soldiers used whiskey as a stimulant and one of the risks of drinking alcohol was dysentery (Military History Monthly 3). Intestinal complications were treated in various ways.

Different methods were employed to treat intestinal complications. For an open intestine, they applied a plug of opium. However, for a closed intestine, they treated it with “Blue Mass”, a mixture of mercury and chalk. Other treatments included strychnine, castor oil, laudanum, camphor, turpentine, calomel, lead acetate, silver nitrate, quinine, whiskey, ipecac, and cauterization of the anal opening (Civil War Medicine 2).

An additional condition that caused a high number of deaths was Typhoid fever. Typhoid fever is a bacterial disease spread through contaminated food and water. Most of the time, symptoms appear one to three weeks after initial exposure. Early symptoms include a fever of up to 104 degrees, weakness, fatigue, muscle aches, sweating, dry cough, weight loss due to appetite loss, abdominal pain, constipation, rash, and a severely swollen abdomen. Without treatment, a Typhoid state occurs, where the affected individual lies motionless and can barely open their eyes. Those with Typhoid fever often also became delirious. The bacteria responsible for this disease is Salmonella Typhi. The most severe complication was internal bleeding and perforations in the digestive system (Mayo Clinic 1). Since this was a deadly disease, effective treatment was lacking. By 1864, the death rate was 60%. Remedies like turpentine, quinine, brandy, and quinine sulphate were used, along with other sanitary measures to try and treat it (PBS 2).

Pneumonia, a disease still present today, was responsible for the death of 20,000 Union and 17,000 Confederate troops during the Civil War. About one in six men infected with pneumonia had it listed as their cause of death (Civil War Diseases 1). Stonewall Jackson died of pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infectious disease that inflames the air sacs located in one or both lungs and can be caused by various agents, such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The severity of this disease can range from mild to rapidly becoming fatal. Symptoms include, but are not limited to, chest pain when breathing or coughing, confusion or changes in mental awareness (especially in adults age 65 and older), fatigue, fever, sweating, shaking chills, lower than normal body temperature (particularly in adults older than age 65 and people with weak immune systems), nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea, and shortness of breath. Many people are familiar with the term ‘walking pneumonia,’ but this is actually not the correct term.

This sort of pneumonia is really caused by bacteria-like microorganisms. One of the most common source of pneumonia is germs. The microorganisms’s scientific name is Streptococcus pneumoniae. During the Civil Battle, this type of pneumonia came after the cold or influenza. The fungis that triggered pneumonia was found in soil and bird droppings, however it varied upon the geographical area where it was found. The viruses that triggered the common cold as well as flu were likewise the infections that triggered pneumonia. Several men in the Civil War smoked, which was just one of the danger elements for pneumonia (Mayo Clinic 3). To deal with pneumonia in Stonewall Jackson’s instance, they injected him with mercury and antimony to utilize as a laxative Pneumonia is a condition existing today, yet throughout the Civil War it was in charge of the death of 20,000 Union and 17,000 Confederate troops. Regarding 1 in 6 men who were contaminated with pneumonia, had it as a fatality (Civil Battle Illness 1). Stonewall Jackson passed away of pneumonia. Pneumonia is defined as a contagious condition which irritates the air sacs situated in one or both lungs. Various things create it, consisting of infections, germs, and fungis.

This disease can range from moderate and after that rapidly go to serious. A few of the signs consist of, but are not restricted to, breast discomfort when an individual takes a breath or coughings, confusion or adjustments in psychological awareness (in adults age 65 and older), fatigue, high temperature, sweating, drinking chills, lower than regular body temperature level (in adults older than age 65 as well as individuals with weak body immune systems), queasiness, vomiting or diarrhea, as well as finally shortness of breath. Lots of people have actually heard the term walking pneumonia, however that is not the right name. This kind of pneumonia is really brought on by bacteria-like organisms. The most usual source of pneumonia is bacteria. The microorganisms’s scientific name is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Throughout the Civil War, this sort of pneumonia came after the common cold or flu. The fungi that caused pneumonia was located in dirt and bird droppings, however it varied upon the geographical place where it was found. The infections that triggered the acute rhinitis and influenza were also the viruses that caused pneumonia.

Many males in the Civil Battle smoked, and that was just one of the risk variables for pneumonia (Mayo Clinic 3). To treat pneumonia in Stonewall Jackson’s situation, they infused him with mercury and antimony to utilize as a laxative as well as induce vomiting. Prior to his injuries and health problem, Stonewall had the acute rhinitis, and as said over, pneumonia was often associated with the cold. They used cupping and blistering representatives to drain his lungs of the pneumonia, for that is what they believed they were doing. Like various other conditions, they used opium in the form of morphine to take care of the discomfort (Civil Battle Monitor 2).

One more illness that killed many soldiers was measles. Measles was a significant problem for soldiers, especially children, throughout the Civil War. One gathering of ten thousand new recruits was struck by measles, and by the end of the week, 40% of them had contracted the illness (Murphy 89). Measles is triggered by the rubeola virus. It is always present within society as an epidemic disease. Scientists have researched and discovered that there are 21 different strains of the measles virus. It takes about one to three weeks after being infected for the measles to show. The symptoms, often referred to as the 3 C’s, are: cough, coryza (runny nose), and conjunctivitis (inflamed eyelids, irritated eyes). It is said that a fever always occurs, whatever the circumstance.

Other symptoms include a dry hacking cough, watery eyes, sensitivity to light, sneezing, a reddish-brownish rash, body aches, and Koplik’s spots. Koplik’s spots are very small grayish-white spots with bluish-white centers in the mouth, insides of cheeks, and throat. It can be assumed that many of the men in the Civil War had vitamin deficiencies since there were limited ways to obtain these vitamins. Vitamin deficiencies were among the risk factors for measles. Complications included diarrhea, vomiting, eye infection, respiratory tract infections such as laryngitis and bronchitis, difficulty breathing, ear infections which could lead to permanent hearing loss, and febrile seizures.

A febrile seizure is a seizure caused by a spike in the body temperature. Another complication of measles was hepatitis. Encephalitis, a fatal inflammation of the brain, affects around 1 in every 1,000 patients with measles. Encephalitis might occur immediately after measles or several years later. Thrombocytopenia, or low platelet count, affects the blood’s ability to clot, so the patient may bruise easily. Squinting, eye nerves, and eye muscles may be affected. Rare, yet possible complications include Neuritis – an infection of the optic nerve that can cause vision loss; heart problems; and Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis – a brain disorder that can affect 2 in every 100,000 people, months or years after a measles infection.

Convulsions, motor abnormalities, cognitive problems, and death can occur. Other nervous system complications include toxic encephalopathy, retrobulbar neuritis, transverse myelitis, and ascending myelitis. There are two types of measles: the standard type caused by the rubeola virus, and Rubella (or German measles) caused by the rubella virus (Christian Nordqvist 1). Measles typically lasts about three to four weeks under normal conditions. Most of the time, it does not cause long-term effects; however, in Army camps during the Civil War, it was usually fatal due to improper treatment of the illness and poor sanitation.

Oftentimes, measles would follow once an individual became infected with pneumonia. During the Civil War, surgeons and physicians attempted to treat this by prescribing whiskey. In addition to this, they employed rest, proper care, and time as treatment methods, as these were believed to be the only genuine cures. However, despite such efforts, many soldiers succumbed to this disease (Measles 1). One case involved ten thousand new recruits, of whom 40% contracted measles by the end of the week.

Tuberculosis claimed the lives of approximately 14,000 soldiers during the Civil War. Once infected, the disease remains in the person’s body indefinitely. Tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial disease marked by the formation of nodules (tubercles) in tissues, especially in the lungs (Civil War Disease 2). The disease spreads via microscopic droplets that enter the air. This was a common occurrence during the Civil War when soldiers with untreated, active tuberculosis coughed, spoke, sneezed, spat, laughed, sang, or engaged in any verbal activity. Consequently, tuberculosis was rampant in the soldiers’ camps. Risk factors included diabetes, severe kidney disease, certain cancers, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, malnutrition, and extreme ages, whether young or old.

The quality of healthcare received, or more accurately, the lack of it, also presented significant risk. Substance abuse, particularly alcohol, weakened the immune system, leaving one more susceptible to tuberculosis. Tobacco use was another risk factor as those who smoked had a higher likelihood of contracting tuberculosis and eventually dying from it. Tuberculosis brought about numerous complications such as spinal pain and joint damage. It was also common for the disease to cause inflammation of the membranes covering the brain, leading to long-lasting or intermittent headaches that could persist for weeks. Mental changes were another possible result. Complications could extend to kidney and liver problems since these organs, responsible for filtering waste and impurities from the bloodstream, may become damaged if affected by tuberculosis. In rare cases, tuberculosis could spread to the tissues surrounding the heart, causing inflammation and fluid buildup which may interfere with the heart’s ability to pump efficiently.

This problem, known as cardiac tamponade, can be fatal and lead to immediate death. The signs of tuberculosis vary depending on which organs and body parts are infected. There are two stages of tuberculosis. The early stage is Latent TB. In Latent TB, a person can be infected with TB, but the bacteria remain in the body in an inactive state and do not cause symptoms. Latent TB, also referred to as inactive TB or TB infection, is not contagious. However, Latent TB can develop into Active TB. Active TB makes a person ill and is highly infectious. It can develop in the first few weeks following infection with the TB bacteria, or it might occur years later. Symptoms of active TB include a cough that lasts three or more weeks, coughing up blood, chest pain or discomfort when breathing or coughing, unintended weight loss, fatigue, fever, night sweats, chills, and loss of appetite (Mayo Clinic 2). During the Civil War, TB was treated by sending affected soldiers to get some so-called “fresh air”, or by performing surgery to reduce lung capacity (Disease 2).

Malaria was another deadly disease that claimed many lives during the Civil War. Malaria is a fever caused by a protozoan parasite that invades red blood cells. This parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes in many tropical and subtropical regions. There are two different types and severities of malaria. Uncomplicated malaria symptoms include feeling cold with shivering, fever, headaches, vomiting, seizures, sweating, returning to a normal temperature, and fatigue. Typically, these symptoms last for 6 to 8 hours.

Severe malaria symptoms include fever and chills, impaired consciousness, prostration or adopting a prone position, multiple convulsions, deep breathing and respiratory distress, irregular bleeding and signs of anemia, clinical jaundice, and evidence of vital organ dysfunction. When an infected mosquito bites a human host, the parasite enters the bloodstream and lays dormant within the liver. The host will not show symptoms for an average of 10.5 days, but the malaria parasite begins multiplying during this period. The new malaria parasites are then released back into the bloodstream, where they infect red blood cells and multiply further. Some malaria parasites remain in the liver and are not released until later, causing recurrence (Mayo Clinic 3).

Throughout the Civil War, they treated malaria with quinine (Civil War Medicine 2). Quinine was discovered by Spanish explorers and conquerors. In reality, they were the ones who brought malaria to South America. In the 1630s, a monk by the name of Antonio de la Calancha wrote, “A tree grows which they call the fever tree in the region of Loxa, whose bark, of the color of cinnamon, made into a powder equivalent to the weight of two small silver coins and given as a drink, cures the fevers known as tertian [Malaria]; it has produced remarkable results in Lima.” Quinine is extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree, which grows in the Andes (Rooney 111).

While bullets and shell casings accounted for many injuries during the Civil War, more soldiers died from sickness and disease. The sanitary conditions of the camps and prisons were appalling. Drinking water and food were often contaminated. Moreover, this was the first time these men experienced living in such large groups, causing fever and disease to spread more rapidly and easily. The six primary diseases that killed the most soldiers were dysentery, typhoid fever, measles, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and malaria. Each disease was unique in its own way, but all had one thing in common: they contributed to a decrease in the soldier population due to death.

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