La Grippe
|
Influenza.
Example from an 1891 Death Certificate
from West Virginia:

Example from a 1921 Death
Certificate from Georgia:

|
Lack of Vitality
|
Weakness.
Example from an 1888
Death Certificate
from New Brunswick, Canada:

|
Ladendo
|
Influenza
[Dunglison1855]
|
Ladies' Fever
|
Syphilis, French
Gout. [Farmer1905].
|
Lahore Sore
|
Cutaneous
Leishmaniasis. Also
called: Delhi boil.
|
Lake Fever
|
Fever produced by the exposure to malaria in the neighborhood of
the northern lakes of this country. [Dunglison1874]
|
Laryngismus Stridulus
|
Sudden laryngeal
spasm with a crowing inspiration and cyanosis, usually occurring
in children at night. Called also false croup, spasmodic croup,
pseudocroup, and laryngitis stridulosa. [Dorland].
Example from a 1921 Death
Certificate from Georgia:

|
Laryngitis
|
Inflammation of the
larynx, usually caused by a virus and characterized by
hoarseness. [American Heritage].
|
Acute Catarrhal Laryngitis
|
An acute catarrhal inflammation of the larynx, characterized by
a hoarse croupal cough. Cynanche Trachealis. [Thomas1907]
|
Chronic Laryngitis
|
Chronic catarrhal inflammation of the larynx. [Thomas1907]
|
Pseudomembranous Laryngitis
|
True Croup,
Membranous Croup, Fribinous Laryngitis. Inflammation of the
mucous membrane of the larynx, resulting in the formation of a
pseudomembrane or pellicle composed of a network of fibrin,
embracing in its meshesleucocytes and necrotic epithelium.
[Wilson 1915].
Example from an 1886 Death Certificate
from Illinois:

|
Spasmodic Laryngitis
|
Spasmodic
Croup
|
Laryngotracheitis
|
Cynanche Trachealis;
True Croup; Membraneous Croup. [American Laryngological
Association 1909].
|
Laudable Pus
|
An obsolete term used when suppuration was considered unlikely
to lead to pyaemia (blood poisoning) but more likely to remain
localized. [CancerWEB]
|
Lax
|
A looseness; diarrhea. [Webster]
|
Leishmaniasis
|
A group of diseases caused by parasitic protozoans of the genus
Leishmania. It is transmitted by sand flies and are, in general,
infections of the skin, mucous membranes, and certain internal
organs by the parasites. Three major types of leishmaniasis
occur in humans - cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral.
[HyperBiology].
-
Fact sheet from CDC
-
Fact sheet from WHO
|
American Leishmaniasis
|
Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis
|
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
|
In cutaneous
leishmaniasis, also known as aleppo boil, aleppo button, Baghdad
boil, Baure ulcer, Delhi boil, oriental sore, and tropical sore,
the parasite causes lesions on the face, arms, and legs which
begin as inflamed bumps and can turn into skin ulcers that take
up to two years to heal. [HyperBiology].
A sand fly-borne
infection most commonly seen in countries in the Middle East,
Mediterranean littoral, Africa, and South America. Both sexes
and all ages can be affected. It is caused by the parasite
Leishmania tropica. The infection first appears after an
incubation period ranging from several weeks to several months
in the form of papules on the exposed skin, followed by
ulceration and scabs. Occurs in a dry and a wet form.
[Whonamedit]
|
Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis
|
In mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, also known as American
leishmaniasis, Chiclero ulcer, espundia, forest yaws, and uta,
the parasite invades the mucous membranes and causes ulcers in
the nose, mouth, and parts of the sinuses. This can result in
lesions and deformity of the face. [HyperBiology].
In mucocutaneous leishmaniasis the parasite invades the mucous
membranes and causes ulcers in the nose, mouth, and parts of the
sinuses. This can result in lesions and deformity of the face.
[Wordnet]
|
Old World Leishmaniasis
|
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
|
Visceral Leishmaniasis
|
In visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala azar (a Hindi term
meaning "black fever") or dumdum fever, the parasite invades the
spleen, liver, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and skin. Symptoms
include fever, fatigue, enlargement of the lymph nodes, the
spleen, and the liver, dizziness, weight loss, and secondary
infections such as pneumonia, and it can be fatal if left
untreated. [HyperBiology]
In visceral leishmaniasis the parasite invades the spleen,
liver, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and skin. Symptoms include
fever, fatigue, enlargement of the lymph nodes, the spleen, and
the liver, dizziness, weight loss, and secondary infections such
as pneumonia, and it can be fatal if left untreated.
[Wordnet]
|
Leontiasis
|
The ridges and furrows on the forehead and cheeks of patients
with advanced lepromatous leprosy, giving a leonine appearance.
[CancerWEB]
|
Lepra
|
The term lepra was formerly given to various skin diseases, the
leprosy of modern authors being Lepra Arabum. [CancerWEB]
|
Leprosy
|
A chronic, mildly contagious granulomatous disease of tropical
and subtropical regions, caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium
leprae, characterized by ulcers of the skin, bone, and viscera
and leading to loss of sensation, paralysis, gangrene, and
deformation. Also called Hansen's disease. [Heritage]
-
Information sheet from NYS Dept of Health
-
Fact sheet from WHO
Example
from a 1734
Death Record from England:
 |
Black Leprosy
|
Leprosy in which the scales are livid; the size of half a
dollar; and diffused over the body. [Dunglison1868]
|
Italian Leprosy
|
Pellagra
|
White Leprosy
|
An affection characterized by white patches, surrounded by a
rose colored areola, which appears here and there on the
surface; depressed in the middle; Lepra. [Dunglison1868]
|
Leptomeningitis
|
A condition in which
the leptomeninges are inflamed. Also called pia-arachnitis .
[Medical Dictionary].
Inflammation of the
pia mater and the arachnoid membrane. [Merriam-Webster].
Example from a 1907 Death
Record from West Virginia:

|
Lesion
|
-
Any morbid change in the exercise of functions or the texture of
organs. [Dunglison1868]
|
Lesion, Brain
|
see Lesion
|
Let Blood
|
Phlebotomy
|
Lethargy
|
Morbid drowsiness; continued or profound sleep, from which a
person can scarcely be awaked. [Webster]
Example
from a 1740
Death Record from England:
 |
Leucocythæmia
|
A disease of
the blood making organs, characterized by an abnormal increase
by the number of white corpuscles, together with enlargement of
the spleen, lymphatics, and disease of the medullary substance
of the bone. The liver or kidneys are also sometimes involved.
The etiology is obscure; the
hæmoglobinization
of the leucocytes does not take place, and hence the increase in
untransformed white corpuscles. Anæmia,
breathlessness, muscular lassitude, hemorrhages, retinal and
other pains in the bones, etc., are the most frequent symptoms.
[Gould 1890].
A form of
cachetic anæmia,
characterized by an excessive quantity of white corpuscles in
the blood. It is termed splenic when the disease originates in
the spleen, lymphatic when it arises from some other portion of
the lymph glandular system. [Hoblyn 1900].
Example from a 1900 Death
Certificate form Edinburgh, Scotland:

|
Leucorrhoea
|
Literally, a white discharge. Its source is either the vagina
itself, or the uterus. This affection has been also termed
fluxus or flour albis; flour muliebris; sexual weakness; a
weakness; and, vulgarly, the whites. [Hoblyn1855]
A discharge of white, yellowish, or greenish, viscid mucus,
resulting from inflammation or irritation of the membrane lining
the genital organs of the female; the whites. [Webster]
|
Leukemia
|
Cancer of the Blood. Malignant neoplasm of blood-forming
tissues; characterized by abnormal proliferation of leukocytes.
[Wordnet].
Any of various acute
or chronic neoplastic diseases of the bone marrow in which
unrestrained proliferation of white blood cells occurs, usually
accompanied by anemia, impaired blood clotting, and enlargement
of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. [American Heritage].
Example from a 1930 Death
Certificate form Delaware:

|
Lymphocytic Leukemia
|
Chronic lymphocytic
leukemia (CLL) causes a slow increase in the number of white
blood cells called B cells in the bone marrow. The cancerous
cells spread from the blood marrow to the blood, and can also
affect the lymph nodes and other organs. CLL eventually causes
the bone marrow to fail and weakens the immune system.
[MedlinePlus].
Example from a 1919 Death
Certificate from Ohio:

|
Myelogenous Leukemia
|
Is cancer that starts
inside bone marrow, the soft tissue inside bones that helps form
blood cells. The cancer grows from cells that would normally
turn into white blood cells. [MedlinePlus].
Splenomyelogenous - formed in the
spleen and bone marrow. [Dorland].
Example from a 1930 Death
Certificate from Ohio:
 |
Spleno-Medullary
Leukemia
|
Myelogenous Leukemia.
Splenomedullary -
of or pertaining to the spleen and bone marrow. [Dorland].
Example from a 1922 Death
Certificate
from New Brunswick, Canada:

|
Lientery
|
There are sundry
other fluxes of the belly, as the Lientery and Coeliac Passion,
which, though less dangerous than the dysentery, yet merit
consideration. These diseases generally proceed from a relaxed
state of the stomach and intestines, which is sometimes so
great, that the food passes through them without almost any
sensible alteration; and the patient dies merely from the want
of nourishment. [Buchan1785].
A diarrhea, in which
the food is discharged imperfectly digested, or with but little
change. [Webster]
|
Limosis
|
Singular forms of depraved appetite are
observed, especially in chlorosis, as well as during pregnancy,
as chalk-eating, fondness for slate pencils. A case of a man has
been related (1868), who took a pound a week, to relieve gastric
irritation, which it removed immediately, and to satisfy a
craving for it. [Dunglison1874].
Abnormal hunger. [Dorland] |
Lithiasis /Calculi
|
The formation of stony concretions or calculi in any part of the
body, especially in the bladder and urinary passages. [Webster]
|
Lingering Fever
|
Linger - to remain
or stay on in a place longer than is usual or expected, as if
from reluctance to leave. [Random House]
-
Example from an 1880 Death Certificate
from West Virginia:

|
Little's Disease
|
A form of spastic
cerebral palsy marked by spastic diplegia in which the legs are
typically more severely affected than the arms; broadly :
Cerebral Palsy. William John Little (1810-1894), British
physician. Little was the first eminent British orthopedic
surgeon. In 1861 he presented the first complete description of
congenital cerebral spastic paralysis, which came to be called
Little's disease and is now known to be a form of spastic
cerebral palsy. [Merriam-Webster].
spastic diplegia. A type of cerebral
palsy in which there is bilateral spasticity, with the lower
extremities more severely affected. Synonym: erb-charcot
disease, infantile diplegia, spastic spinal paralysis, tabes
spasmodica. [Biology-Online.org]
Cerebral palsy was originally called Little's Disease because
the first medical records of cerebral palsy were made by English
surgeon William John Little in 1843.
|
Liver Disease
|
Hepatopathia, Acholia.
-
Example from an 1848 Death
Certificate form
Oswestry, Shopshire,
England:
- (Disease of the Liver
- Dropsy)

|
Livergrown
|
Having an enlarged liver [Webster]
|
Lockjaw
|
An early sign of
tetanus, in which the jaw is locked closed because of a tonic
spasm of the muscles of mastication. Also called trismus.
[Heritage].
Example
from a 1756
Death Record from England:

Example from an 1867 Death Certificate
from West Virginia:

|
Locomotor Ataxia
|
A late form of
syphilis resulting in a hardening of the dorsal columns of the
spinal cord and marked by shooting pains, emaciation, loss of
muscular coordination, and disturbances of sensation and
digestion. Also called tabes dorsalis. [Heritage].
Is the inability to
control one's body movements as intended. Persons afflicted with
this disease may appear to walk like defective robots or
otherwise move like malfunctioning machinery. It may frequently
be a symptom of advanced Syphilis. It is often a symptom of
Tabes dorsalis. It is caused by degeneration of posterior
(dorsal) white column of spinal cord; patient can't tell where
arms and legs are unless he looks, but can feel and locate hot
object placed on foot. [Wikipedia].
Example from a 1903 Death Record
from Scotland:

Example from a 1922 Death
Certificate from Georgia:

|
Loiasis
|
A chronic disease caused by infestation of the subcutaneous
connective tissue of the body with the worm Loa loa and
characterized by hyperemia, exudation of fluid, and a creeping
sensation in the tissues with intense itching. [Saunders1945]
|
Looseness
|
Summer Complaint
|
Love
|
A tender and
elevated feeling, which attracts one sex to the other. Love is
occasionally a cause of disease, especially of insanity.
[Dunglison1855]
|
The Low Fever
|
Typhus
Mitior in Latin. [Hooper1822]
|
Low Continued Fever
|
Typhoid Fever,
Febricula, Little Fever. [Symptom, Nature, etc. of the Febricula
or Little Fever, Manningham, 1746].
|
Low Spirits
|
Hypochondria
|
Lues
|
Syphilis
[Dunglison1868].
Disease, especially
of a contagious kind. Lues venerea, syphilis; called also simply
lues. [CancerWEB].
|
Lues Venerea
|
The plague of Venus,
or the venereal disease, Syphilis. [Hooper1843].
Syphilis
[Dunglison1868] |
Lumbago
|
A rheumatic pain in the loins and the small of the back. [Webster1913]
|
Lung Fever
|
Catarrh, pneumonia.
[Dunglison1868].
Lobar Pneumonia;
Croupous Pneumonia. [The American Illustrated Medical Dictionary
1914].
Croupous pneumonia. [Gould1916].
Example from an 1853 Death Certificate
from West Virginia:

|
Lupia
|
Wen; a tumour.
[Hoblyn1900].
|
Lupus
|
Any of various chronic skin conditions characterized by ulcerative
lesions that spread over the body. No longer in scientific use.
[Webster].
Example from an 1868 Death Certificate
from West Virginia:

Example from an 1885 Death Certificate
from Illinois:

|
Luxation
|
Displacement or misalignment of a joint or organ. [Wordnet]
|
Lycanche
|
Wolf Choak
|
Lymphadenoma
|
A tumor like
enlargement of a lymph node. No longer in technical use.
[American Heritage].
Lymphoma, Hodgkin's
Disease. [Merriam Webster].
Example from a 1921 Death
Certificate
from New Brunswick, Canada:

|