Dysentery

In the 18th century dysentery was commonly known as "the bloody flux" due to its signature symptom of bloody diarrhea.

Transmission & Vectors

Dysentery is primarily spread through food or water contaminated with bacteria, but it can also be easily spread between people in close living quarters. This made it especially common in military camps and in military prisons.

Causes

Though it wasn't known at the time, there are multiple types of bacteria and even parasites that can cause dysentery. Ingesting contaminated food or water, or being in close quarters with someone with the infection can result in its rapid spread.

Symptoms

The symptoms of dysentery, along with the major symptom resulting in its nickname of the "bloody flux," include high fever, stomach cramps, vomiting, and weight loss.

Treatment

Because antibiotics did not exist in the 18th century, doctors would try any number of medicines with varying levels of success. Some of these included turpentine, caster oil, and opium, just to name a few.

Prognosis

Though dysentery was survivable, it also had a relatively high death rate. This was partly due to the treatments that usually only made the symptoms worse, and partly due to the lack of space and sanitation in military camps and prisons, where the infection was most common. Even without antibiotics the human body can typically fight off the infection in three to seven days, but the patient needs to keep hydrated throughout the duration of the symptoms, as diarrhea can rapidly dehydrate the human body. Having a ready supply of enough clean water was often not possible in 18th century military camps, and especially not in military prisons, leading to higher rates of death from dysentery.

Prevention

Practicing good hygiene and not drinking contaminated water are generally the best practices for preventing dysentery. Despite common misconceptions, people in the 18th century did have better hygiene than might be expected, but it was difficult to keep an army clean. At the time, bathing was only done when the army was close enough to a body of water to allow it. And in military prisons, guards were not prone to allowing prisoners to bathe and potentially swim away (and in some cases they likely did not care about the health of their charges anyway).

Type

Bacterial

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Common

Sources:

• Cleveland Clinic

• NHS

• Common Diseases of the 18th and 19th Century (American Battlefield Trust)