Phthisis pulmonum

Charles C. McCaleb

Resignation letter to take effect August 7, 1864.

Personal: Married to Sarah E. Gardenshire July 6, 1854; divorced November, 1860. Died in Harrison, Hamilton County, Tennessee on June 13, 1866 of consumption.

Letter from Asst. Surgeon Albert T. Lea dated July 27, 1864:

"Lt. Col. C.C. McCaleb of the 5th Regt Tenn Vol Infty having presented himself for examination. I hereby certify that I have this day carefully examined the said officer and find him to be laboring under incipient Phthisis by reason of which he is in my opinion permanently disabled for further duties in the army and I advise his immediate resignation as the only means of restoring his health."

Letter from Assistant Surgeon John C. Everett dated November 20th 1866:

"... he was personally acquainted with Charles C. McCaleb late Lieut. Col. of the 5th Regiment of Tennessee Inft Vols and that the said McCaleb entered the service of the United States early in 1862 a sound and abled bodied man and continued so up to the 2nd day of June 1864, upon which day Col McCaleb led the Regiment in the battle of New Hope Church in the state of Georgia during a tremendous rain storm. The Regiment lay on the fields that night without rations, fire, dry close or blankets in consequence of which Col. McCaleb contracted a severe cold which seriously involved his lungs speedily producing Phthisis Pulmonolis under which he rapidly declined in health resigned his position as Lieut Col. and died early in the year 1866. Col McCaleb was a fine officer was of good moral habits and gives no evidence of decline or disease until the time above stated. So that I have no doubt but that his disease and death was consequent upon the above exposures. I have no interest in this claim."
 
Seen equally in Federal medical records ...

Army of the United States. CERTIFICATE OF DISABILITY FOR DISCHARGE
Cover page: WILLIAM C. McREYNOLDS a Private Co M, Twelfth Reg't of Ky. Cavy.
Adjutant General's Office Aug 18, 1863.
Page 2: WILLIAM McRUNNELS, pvt, Company M. of the 12th Ky Regiments Vols.
Cavly was enlisted by Captn WILSON at Owensboro Ky on the 28 day of October
1862 to serve 3 years; he was born in Allen Co in the State of Kentucky is 18
years of age, 5 feet, 10 inches high, Dark complexion, Hazel eyes, Dark hair and
by occupation when enlisted a Farmer.
Station: Hob.??? Louisville, Ky
Date: 14, July 1863.

I certify that I have carefully examine the said WM. C. McREYNOLDS at Captain
WILSON's Company and find him incapable of performing the duties of a soldier
because of Phthisis Pulmonolis.
Discharged this 14 day of July 1863 at Louisville, KY.
The soldier desires to be addressed at town Scottsville, county Allen, State
Kentucky.
 
That's both fascinating and terribly sad, thanks very much for the posts. You keep reading how the medical field advanced hugely because of the war- I'd have to guess TB was an old adversary for the docs they just knew they could do little for. The thing is, they did know what caused people to be susceptible to it- and conditions as described above were not helpful. It's so baffling, the army- esp. the Union army which had vast resources, did not make more attempts ( or any ) to guard against some of the common killers like TB. I don't think it would have been unrealistic- and no idea what exactly, it was just SO common and always fatal, that's all.
 
I have heard doctors use the term phthisis in my time but with other maladies.
An example, here, the term used with "consumption" -
... George W. Fullhart:... "mustered" into Company K of the Indiana 19th Infantry Regiment on the Union side on 2/20/1864 as a private. ...
died 2/20/1877, of "Phthisis Pulmonolis" [sic; Pulmonalis" ("consumption"). ... He was 33 years old, 18 days old.
 
I didn't mean to imply that it was used incorrectly with pulmonolis, just that it is a term that has survived to modern day. I am one of the rare nerds who actually enjoys the medical language, Latin and all. :wink:
Oh no, I didn't take it that way Belle. :smile: Had just come across the term used with consumption. Not a good example though, since 1877 isn't even close to "your time". :giggle:

And I appreciate medical language as well.:smile:
 
It's all Greek to me, but these terms are beginning to add up to a useful dictionary. Thanks for posting them.
 
Mother's mother died of that pth**** thing on or about 1909. Spokane. A sanitarium around there. We have not found the grave. The kids -- those that survived -- were fostered out.
 
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