milk sickness

American  

[milk sik-nis] / ˈmɪlk ˌsɪk nɪs /

noun

Pathology.

1. a disease of humans, formerly common in some parts of the Midwestern and Southern United States, caused by consuming milk from cattle that have been poisoned by eating certain kinds of snakeroot.

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milk sickness British  

noun

1. an acute disease characterized by weakness, vomiting, and constipation, caused by ingestion of the flesh or dairy products of cattle affected with trembles

2. vet science another name for trembles

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Etymology

Origin of milk sickness

An Americanism first recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

The legislatures of several of the Western States have offered rewards for the discovery of the origin of the milk sickness.

From The American Reformed Cattle Doctor by Dadd, George

The milk sickness is a disease of a singular character, which prevails in certain places.

From A New Guide for Emigrants to the West by Peck, John Mason

In the Indiana cabin Abraham's mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Hanks, died, far from medical aid, of the epidemic called milk sickness.

From Lectures and Essays by Smith, Goldwin

Jim was for going out for burdock leaves at once, for me, but the horse doctor told him I didn't have no milk sickness.

From How Private George W. Peck Put Down The Rebellion or, The Funny Experiences of a Raw Recruit - 1887 by Peck, George W. (George Wilbur)

In addition, the milk sickness was a sort of an epidemic disease in those parts.

From Boys' and Girls' Biography of Abraham Lincoln by Shaw, James H.