During the war there were more deaths from disease than from combat. Here are some of the most common, and most deadly, diseases.
typhus
Causes: can be carried by fleas, rats, mice, or lice
Symptoms: high fever, aches, coughing, nausea
Treatments in 1775: none
dysentery
Causes: The bacteria E coli
Symptoms: cramping, nausea, abdominal pain
Treatments in 1775: none
smallpox
Causes: contact with infected people or items
Symptoms: high fever, aches, fatigue, blisters
Treatments in 1775: People were given a minor form of the virus, making them immune in the future.
yellow fever
Causes: mosquitos
Symptoms: fever, chills, aches, and eventually liver or kidney failure
Treatments in 1775: none
To protect his men, Washington gave them a minor version of the virus making them immune. This had to be done secretively, since the British would attack if they knew his men were weak.
Causes: can be carried by fleas, rats, mice, or lice
Symptoms: high fever, aches, coughing, nausea
Treatments in 1775: none
dysentery
Causes: The bacteria E coli
Symptoms: cramping, nausea, abdominal pain
Treatments in 1775: none
smallpox
Causes: contact with infected people or items
Symptoms: high fever, aches, fatigue, blisters
Treatments in 1775: People were given a minor form of the virus, making them immune in the future.
yellow fever
Causes: mosquitos
Symptoms: fever, chills, aches, and eventually liver or kidney failure
Treatments in 1775: none
To protect his men, Washington gave them a minor version of the virus making them immune. This had to be done secretively, since the British would attack if they knew his men were weak.
Prisoner of war ships were a very bad place to end up. Most British POW ships were anchored in New York Harbor. Disease was very common, and getting on one of these ships was as bad as a death sentence. Officers were treated better, but were expected to pay for the better treatment.