Detroit Free Press Favorite

1883 Pensioners

Common Abbreviations and Terms
Used in Causes of Disability

The following is a compilation of common abbreviations used in the 1883 Pensioners enumeration. Several different abbreviations appear for the some word. Many of the diseases contracted by the soldiers were the result of infectious diseases, living conditions and consequences of war. Some of the entries have no indication of the cause of the disability. Further questions on abbreviations please contact

A

ab. = abdomen/abdominal
abd. = abdomen/abdominal
abv. = above
affec. = affected/affecting
aff. = affected/affecting
ampt. = amputation
aptn. = amputation
ampt’n = amputation
anasarca = generalized edema of the body
anch. = anchylosis/ankylosis (immobility of a joint)
ank. = ankle
aphonia = disease of vocal chords, absence
or difficult speech
atrop. = atrophy
atrophy. = atrophy

B

bronch. = bronchitis
but. = buttocks

C

c. = cough
ch. = chronic
chro. = chronic
chr. = chronic
conj’ct’n. = conjunctivitis
consumption = tuberculosis

D

deaf. = deafness
dep. = dependent
depd. = dependent
dept. = dependent
diarr. = diarrea
diarre. = diarrea
dis. = dislocation or disease (most common)
disl. = dislocation
dis’l. = dislocation

E

erysip. = erysipalis (acute febrile disease, if untreated
causes nephritis, or abcesses)

F

fev. = fever
fin./fing. = finger(s)
frac. = fracture
fr, = from

G

g.s.w. = gun shot wound
gen’l. = general
granl. = granular
grt. = great

H

ht. = heart
hd. = head or hand, depending on context

I

inflam. = inflammation
inj. = injury

J

jnt. = joint

K

kid. = kidney

L

l. = left
lt. = left
lft. = left
ls. = loss
lumbago = dull, aching pain in lower back

M

mal. = malaria/malarial
malar. = malaria
meas. = measles
mid. = middle

N

nates = buttocks
ner. = nervous
nerv. = nervous
neuralg. = neuralgia

O

opth’a = opthalmia (severe inflammation of the eye)
osseous tumor = bone tumor or growth

P

pt. = partial
paral. = paralysis
part. = partial
part’l. = partial
phthisis pulmon = pulmonary tuberculosis
prostra. = prostration
pul. = pulmonary
pulmon. = pulmonary
pulm’y. = pulmonary

Q

R

res. = result
result. = resulting
resul’g. = resulting
res’t. = resulting
r. = right
rgt. = right
rt. = right
rheum. = rheumatism
rheu. = rheumatism

S

s. = sabre or shot
sci. = sciatica
scorbutic = having to do with scurvy
sh’r. = shoulder
shlder. = shoulder
spin. = spinal
stom. = stomach
surv. = survivor

T

typ. = thyphoid/typhoid
thro. = through

V

vac. = vaccination
var. = varicose
varia. = varicose
vis. = viscera
visc. = viscera

W

w. = wound
wd. = wound
By Donna Hoff Grambau 2001