The 51st North Carolina’s service records contain references to many different diseases. Below is a glossary of the diseases mentioned in the soldiers’ records.
| Disease | Description |
| Abcessus | Swollen, inflamed area of body (see Carbuncle) |
| Acute Diarrhea | Three episodes of diarrhea within 24 hours; can be caused by bacteria or virus |
| Ague | Malaria |
| Anasarca | Edema (swelling) of the skin |
| Anemia | Fatigue and dizziness caused by low red cells |
| Anthrax | Bacterial infection of skin, lungs, or intestines |
| Apoplexia | Paralysis due to stroke |
| Articular Rheumatism | Contraction of muscles; extreme cases can cause a limb to become unusable |
| Ascites | Accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity |
| Asthma | Shortness of breath; can be caused by poor nutrition |
| Bilious Colic | Ache in the upper abdomen; usually caused by the gallbladder |
| Bilious Fever | Possibly typhoid, malaria, or hepatitis |
| Bowel Consumption | Inflammation of the intestines caused by tuberculosis |
| Bronchitis | Inflammation of the lung’s airways |
| Brain Fever | Meningitis |
| Bubo Syphiliticum | Secondary syphilis |
| Carbuncle | Also called abscessus; cluster of boils on the skin; caused by bacteria |
| Cardialgia | Heartburn |
| Catarrhus | Inflammation of mucous membranes |
| Coxalgia | Pain in the hip |
| Cholera | Contagious disease with severe diarrhea |
| Cholera Morbus | Infectious disease with nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and fever |
| Chronic Diarrhea | Diarrhea that lasts more than 14 days; usually caused by bacteria or virus |
| Congestion of the Bowels | Constipation |
| Congestive Fever | Malaria |
| Continuous Fever | Typhoid fever, in most cases |
| Constipation | Infrequent or irregular bowel movements |
| Consumption | Tuberculosis |
| Cystitis | Inflammation of the bladder |
| Debility | Loss of strength; fatigue; often used to describe dysentery |
| Diarrhea | Urgent, frequent, watery bowel movements |
| Diphtheria | Contagious disease of the throat |
| Dropsy | Edema (swelling), often caused by heart or kidney disease |
| Dysentery | Inflammation of the intestines caused by bacteria or parasites |
| Dyspepsia | Gastric discomfort after eating |
| Enteritis | Inflammation of small intestine |
| Epilepsy | Episodes of confusion, spasms; can be caused by meningitis or head injury |
| Epistaxis | Nose bleed |
| Eruptive Fever | Could be measles or small pox |
| Erysipelis | Contagious skin disease from strep virus |
| Fibris Gout | Swollen and tender joints |
| Fistula in Ano | Infection of the anus |
| Gastritis | Inflammation of the stomach lining |
| Gonorrhea | Bacterial infection of genitalia |
| Hemoptysis | Spitting up blood; likely tuberculosis |
| Hemorrhoids | Swelling and inflammation of arteries and veins in the anus |
| Hepatitis | Viral infection of the liver |
| Hydrocele | Swollen scrotum |
| Hypertrophy | Enlarged organ |
| Icterus | Jaundice |
| Intermittent Fever | Usually malaria |
| Jaundice | Yellow skin caused by liver; could be malaria or hepatitis |
| Laryngitis | Inflammation of the throat caused by virus or bacteria |
| Lumbago | Lower back pain |
| Meningitis | Inflammation of the brain |
| Morbi Cutis | Measles |
| Mumps | Viral infection of the parotid gland |
| Nephritis | Inflammation of the kidneys |
| Neuralgia | Headache |
| Orchitis | Inflammation of the testicles caused by virus or bacteria |
| Otalgia | Ear ache |
| Otorrhea | Ear drainage |
| Parotitis | Mumps |
| Phthisis Pulmonalis | Tuberculosis |
| Pleuritis | Pain in the chest when breathing |
| Pneumonia | Inflammation of the lungs |
| Pyaemia | Blood poisoning; often fatal |
| Remittent Fever | Usually malaria |
| Rheumatism | Inflammation of joints and muscles |
| Rheumatic Carditis | Pain in the heart and joints with fever; occurs after a strep bacterial infection |
| Rubeola | Measles |
| Scabies | Infestation by skin mites |
| Scorbutus | Scurvy |
| Sick Headache | Migraine |
| Smallpox | Contagious disease with fever and blisters |
| Sore Stern | Sore throat; distemper — diphtheria |
| Stricture | Narrowing of a passageway in the body |
| Subluxation | Incomplete dislocation |
| Syphilis | Bacterial infection that causes sores or rash |
| Tetanus | Infectuous disease with high fever |
| Tonsilitis | Inflammation of the tonsils |
| Tuberculosis | Bacterial infection mainly in the lungs |
| Typhoid Fever | Bacterial infection caused by contaminated food and water; fever and diarrhea |
| Typhoid Pneumonia | Specific type of pneumonia |
| Ulcus | Ulcers of the skin |
| Variola | Smallpox |
| Vulnus Sclopeticum |
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