Medical Terms

This chapter is not an exhaustive or authoritative list of all diseases and obsolete medical terms. Further, the author is not a medical professional and the information contained within this chapter is not for medical use. This chapter is intended to help genealogists understand medical conditions, illnesses, etc. that affected our ancestors.

Click a letter to open that page of the dictionary:

F

falling sickness

See: epilepsy.

 

fatty liver

Cirrhosis.

 

fits

Sudden attack or seizures.  This was a common term used for any situation where a person was highly upset and could not be reasoned with.

 

flux

An excessive flow or discharge of fluid like hemorrhage or diarrhea.

 

French pox

Syphilis.