“The Dumb Ague”

In today’s excerpt, Philip skips from October 1, 1864 to an undated entry later in the month, then to October 26^th. He then only made 3 entries for the month of November, briefly discussing the results of the presidential election on November 8^th. In all of the other entries, he talks about being sick with chills and fever and “ague”.

“Ague” is an old term that refers to malaria. It is estimated that one quarter of all illness during the Civil War was malarial in nature. About 10,000 Union soldiers died of malaria during the Civil War and that more than 1 million Union soldiers contracted the disease. Confederate armies also suffered from malaria although the mortality appeared to be less among the Confederate soldiers.

A Civil War Hospital

Source: American Civil War Disease Facts

 

At the time of the Civil War, doctors did not yet understand that malaria was transmitted by the female anopheles mosquito. An article published in Scientific American in 1861 states that, “It may consist of organisms, either animal or vegetable, too minute for even the microscope to detect or it may be some condition of the atmosphere in relation to electricity, or temperature, or moisture; or it may be a gas evolved in the decay of vegetable matter. The last is the most common hypothesis…”

Quinine was the most effective treatment for malaria available during the Civil War. The Union army used over 19 tons of quinine sulfate throughout the war. It was routinely administered prophylactically to troops mixed with whiskey to make it more palatable. Because of Union blockades, quinine was scarce in the Confederacy during the war which led to high prices, smuggling and sales on the black market. Confederate doctors developed their own treatments for malaria using ingredients such as yellow poplar bark, tulip tree bark, holly, black alder, hazel alder, dogwood and knotgrass.

It wasn't until 1880 that it was discovered that a parasite transmitted by mosquitos caused malaria.

Sources:

The Civil War and Malaria

Historical Natural History: Insects and the Civil War

“The Popular Dose with Doctors”: Quinine and the American Civil War

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OCTOBER 1^ST

Was on guard on the fort this day and had a very hard time of it. Raining all the time. Was wet all night and caught a very bad cold. Our battery is down with the chills and fever. Last night we had a dance and had a splendid time of it. (The following seems to be an entry from a different day – after October 14^th. Though Philip does not have a new date entered.) Went into the Cook House as the cook on the 7^th of October. Was taken down with the chills and fever and was sick until the 14^th when I began to mend. Have plenty of work to do. The battery has to drill four hours daily.

OCTOBER 26^TH

I am still down with the dumb ague but am mending. John C. Edelston, a member of our battery, died after an illness of long standing. We all banded together and bought him a splendid coffin and sent his body home with his mother and brother who were here at the time of his death.

NOVEMBER 1^ST

Am very sick with the chills and fever. Everything quiet about our camp.

NOVEMBER 8^TH

We held an election for president and everything went off nice. The vote for president stood as follows at the close of the polls. Lincoln 55 (Lincoln beat opponent General George McClellan with 55% of the popular vote). Casting my first vote and I gave old Abe the benefit of it.

NOVEMBER 25^TH

Went down to the doctor and received some medicine on the 22^nd and received a box from home and the contents of which were mostly spoilt.