It was often fatal. An ulcerous sore of the mouth and lips, not considered fatal today. See cancrum otis. Inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially of the air passages of the head and throat, with a free discharge. An acute, infectious disease characterized by profuse diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps.
Cholera is spread by feces-contaminated water and food.
It was common among the poor and in hand-fed babies. Death frequently occurred in three to five days. Saint Vitus' dance. Infantile colic is benign paroxysmal abdominal pain during the first three months of life. Colic rarely caused death.