MILK SICKNESS Meaning and
Definition
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Milk sickness is a rare and potentially fatal disease that affects humans, particularly those who consume milk or meat from animals grazing on certain plants. It is caused by ingesting the toxic substance tremetol, which is found in various parts of the white snakeroot plant (Ageratina altissima).
The symptoms of milk sickness usually appear within a few days of consuming contaminated products and can range from mild to severe. Initially, individuals may experience fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, and general discomfort. As the disease progresses, more severe symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, tremors, delirium, and coma may occur. In some cases, milk sickness can lead to death.
Historically, milk sickness was more prevalent in rural areas where people relied on their livestock for sustenance. Abraham Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, is believed to have died of milk sickness, highlighting its significance in American history.
Treatment for milk sickness involves removing the source of contamination and supportive care to alleviate symptoms and maintain the patient's overall health. There is no specific antidote for tremetol poisoning, and prevention is key to avoiding the disease. Ensuring that livestock graze in areas without the white snakeroot plant can help reduce the risk of milk sickness.
In conclusion, milk sickness is a rare illness caused by consuming tremetol found in white snakeroot plant, resulting in a range of symptoms that can be fatal if left untreated.
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Trembles, slows; an infectious disease of cattle, communicable to man, characterized by vomiting, fetid odor of the breath, constipation, and severe nervous symptoms.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for MILK SICKNESS
- nilk sickness
- kilk sickness
- jilk sickness
- mulk sickness
- mjlk sickness
- mklk sickness
- molk sickness
- m9lk sickness
- m8lk sickness
- mikk sickness
- mipk sickness
- miok sickness
- milj sickness
- milm sickness
- mill sickness
- milo sickness
- mili sickness
- milk aickness
- milk zickness
Etymology of MILK SICKNESS
The word "milk sickness" has a straightforward etymology. It comes from the combination of two words:
1. Milk: Referring to the white liquid produced by female mammals to nourish their young.
2. Sickness: Referring to a state of being ill or unwell.
When combined, "milk sickness" specifically refers to a type of illness or sickness caused by consuming milk or other dairy products contaminated with toxic compounds. It primarily became a term associated with a historical disease known as "Tremetol Vomiting Sickness", which was prevalent in certain areas of the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries. This sickness got its name because it was commonly believed that the illness resulted from cows grazing on white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) plants, which contain the poison tremetol.
Similar spelling word for MILK SICKNESS
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