Sickness a problem on Confederate Ships on the James River-- Part 2

The conclusion reached in the subsequent report illustrated the hazards of duty on the river:  "We consider the causes of the  great amount of sickness on board said vessels to be, first, and chiefly, that the exposure to malaria, the necessary consequence of a residence on the waters of  James River; as a secondary cause to this, but in our opinion highly conducive to the hurtful influence, we would enumerate the  heated exposure of the ironclads, especially when at quarters and during action, the want of proper exercise on shore, and of  a deficient supply of vegetables and fruits for the ships' companies...."

Difficult living conditions and sickness were common, especially in the summer, for both navies on the James River as well as elsewhere throughout the tidewaters of the South.

--Old B-Runner

Pernicious and Congestive Fever?

In an earlier blog entry today, I wrote about Commodore Bell reporting to Secretary of Navy Welles from New Orleans that there had been a yellow fever breakout and, at the same time, one of pernicious and congestive fever.

I was not sure exactly what pernicious and congestive fevers were so had to look them up.

Both terms refer to malaria.

I often have problems with Civil War diseases as different names were used back then in many cases. While looking for these two fevers, I came across an excellent site which might be of use for others in connection to this. It is The Yesterday of..... Hamilton County, Illinois: Old Diseases Defined.

--Old B-Runner