The following is a compiled listing of illnesses and causes of deaths gleaned from three primary sources.  They are posted here in the hopes that they may aid family historians and genealogists in interpreting the conditions in which their ancestors lived and died.  My role has merely been the compiler.  The credit for the translation work should go to Ann
     Rempel, Dora Epp, V. Lyle von Riesen, and Adalbert Goertz.  Those who feel they have more to add to the list or important corrections may do so by notifying myself (Judith Rempel, rempelj@cadvision.com).

Reviewers who have suggested improvements: Elli Wise, Alan Peters, Adalbert Goertz, Glenn Penner and an anonymous physician from Calgary, Alberta.  Thank you. Edited by Marty McMahon (13 Apr 1997) This work may be freely copied for non-profit purposes,  No copyright is claimed.

 

GERMAN ILLNESS TRANSLATIONS

Abzehrung-emaciation; consumption

 

Altengeschwuern-varicose veins

 

Altersschwaeche & Altershalber-old age            

 

Ausschlag-skin disease

 

Auszehrung-weakness - often tuberculosis

 

Blattern-pustules, perhaps smallpox or chicken pox

 

Blinddarmentzuendung-appendicitis

 

Blutsturz-violent hemorrhage

 

Blutvergiftung-blood poisoning

 

Brauene-diphtheria

 

Brechdurchfall-bloody diarrhea - perhaps bacillary dysentery (i.e. Shigellosis)

 

Bruch Schaden-hernia

 

Brustkrankheit-?

 

Convulsionen-convulsions

 

Darmgicht, Darmkolik, & Darmsucht-intestinal afflictions - one or more could be gastroenteritis caused by bacteria

 

Lungesucht (der taru)-tuberculosis

 

Diphtherie, diphteritis-diphtheria

 

Druesenkrankheit-disease of the lymph glands - perhaps scrofula (an acute form of tuberculosis)

 

Durchfall-diarrhea

 

Durchfall und der Ruhr-dysentery

 

Engbruestigkeit-tightness of chest, asthma

 

Englischen Krankheit-rickets

 

Entkraeftung-weakness as found in old age

 

Enzuendungs Fieber-inflammation/fever

 

Epilepsie-epilepsy

 

Ertrunken-drowned

 

Faul Fieber-"rotten" fever

 

Flecken-spots-perhaps measles or typhus

 

Folgen chirurgieschen-operation result of a surgical operation

 

Fraisen-?

 

Freasal und Fleck Fieber-fever and spotted fever

 

Friesel  Pustules-could be chicken pox

 

Fruehgeburt-premature birth

 

Gallkrankheit-?

 

Gallen Fieber-infected gall bladder - perhaps bilious fever or hepatitis

 

Gedaermbrand, Gedaermfrasz-intestinal gangrene (ulcerative colitis)

 

Gelbsuch-jaundice

 

Geschwulst-tumor

 

Gicht-gout

 

Gichter-convulsive fits

 

Goldene Ader-hemorrhoids

 

Halsbrauene-quinsy, suppurative tonsillitis - perhaps strep throat

 

Halsenzuendung-tonsillitis

 

Harnruhr-diabetes insipidus

 

Herz-Brustwassersucht mit Hinzutrender Lungenlaehmug-pleurisy, emphysema

 

Herzerweiterung, Leber-Magenverhaertung-enlarged heart and hardening of the liver and stomach

 

Herzkrankheit-heart disease

 

Hitziges Fieber-typhoid fever

 

Husten-cough

 

Kaltenbrande-frostbite

 

Kaltenerkaeltung-influenza

 

Keuchhusten-whooping cough

 

Kindbette (in dem)-post partum illness

 

Knochenbruechen-broken bones

 

Knochenfaeule-osteomyelitis

 

Kolik-colic

 

Kraempfen-cramps

 

Krankheiten und Urin-illness of urine-producing organs

 

Krebs-cancer

 

Lebensschwaeche-frailty of life

 

Leibverstopfung-blockage of the belly (constipation)

 

Luftroehrenschwindzucht-bronchial (galloping) consumption - probably bronchial pneumonia

 

Lungenentzuendung-pneumonia

 

Lungenlaemung-disability of the lungs

 

Lungentuberkulose-pulmonary tuberculosis

 

Magenkrebs-stomach cancer

 

Magenoperation-stomach operation

 

Magenverhaertung-perhaps hardening of the stomach

 

Masern-measles

 

Masern und Roetheln-measles and German measles

 

Melancholie und Wahnsin-depression and madness

 

Nerven Fieber-typhus

 

Nichtbestimte Krankheit-unknown illness

 

Niederkunft (bei der)-maternity confinement

 

Nierenkrebs-kidney cancer

 

Organ.  Herzfehler-organic heart failure

 

Petechien-typhoid

 

Pocken-smallpox

 

Potatschen-spotted fever, spotted typhoid

 

Scharlach, Scharlach Fieber & Schlarachriesel-scarlet fever

 

Schlag, Schlaganfall-stroke

 

Schlagflusz-apoplectic fit, stroke

 

Schleichendem Fieber-consumption, tuberculosis

 

Schwemmen-external growth (spongy growth)

 

Schwindsucht-acute tuberculosis

 

Selbstmoerder-suicide

 

Soropkeln (?)  Verstopfung der Gekroesdruesen-blockage of intestines, tuberculosis of glands

 

Steckflusz-asthma, emphysema

 

Steinbeschwerde-kidney stones

 

Stickhusten-whooping cough

 

Tod durch Unschlingung der Nabelschnur um den Hals-Erstichung-stillbirth due to strangulation by umbilical cord

 

Ungluecksfaellen mancher Art-accidents of any kind

 

Unterleibsentzuendung-peritonitis due to intestinal bacteria released into the abdominal cavity

 

Unzeitig ad. Todtgeborene; den Wochen-in stillborn, or premature childbirth

 

Venerischen Krankheit-venereal disease, syphilis

 

Verunglueckt-accidental death

 

Wasserkopfe-hydrocephalous

 

Wassersucht-dropsy, congestive heart failure, edema

 

Weszerschen-?

 

Windgeschwulst-chicken  pox

 

Wuermern-worms

 

Zaehnen-teeth

 

Sources:

 

(1) The Kirchenbuch prepared by Dirck Tiessen (1782) in Petershagen,
  Prussia.  This is how the list started, from a single page entitled
  "Hauptkrankeiten" (main illnesses).  It was translated  by Ann Rempel
  and Dora Epp in 1996.  They humbly requested that I qualify their work
  as follows.  "Not all terms are translated or perhaps correctly
  translated.  But, but the result is the best of our ability."  For both
  Ann and Dora, German is their first language, but have lived in Canada
  and used English for 40+ years.

 

(2) A monograph by Richard Ringenberg (1942), Familienbuch der
  mennoniten Gemeinde Eichstock.   Schriften des Bayerischen Landesvereins
  fuer Familienkunde e. V., Heft 18.  Verlag Michael Laszleben, Kallmuenz
  uebert Regensburg.  The causes of death found in this monograph were
  extensively reviewed by V. Lyle von Riesen who holds a PhD and has
  taught in medical schools in the United States for 35 years.  His
  published article is entitled "Causes of Deaths in the Eichstock
  [Baveria] Mennonite congregation" and can be found in Mennonite Family
  History, XV, 4, p. 151-155. 

 

(3) Another article published in Mennonite Family History, prepared by
  Adalbert Goertz.  It appeared in the April 1991 issue as "Diseases in
  Prussian Church Records".