jail fever

British  

noun

1. a former name for typhus, once a common disease in jails

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Example Sentences

Among the possibilities mentioned were jail fever, camp fever, eruptive military fever, and autumnal fever.

From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy

"I understood that he died of a jail fever, caught at the Assizes, where he was serving on—what do you call it?"

From Lady Good-for-Nothing by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir

Consequently dysentery, smallpox and jail fever made fearful ravages.

From "Evacuation Day", 1783 Its Many Stirring Events: with recollections of Capt. John Van Arsdale by Riker, James

In this gloomy abode jail fever was ever present.

From American Prisoners of the Revolution by Dandridge, Danske

As he contrived, however, to be as little alone as possible his gayety was commonly uppermost till that loathsome distemper, called the jail fever, broke out in the prison.

From The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain and Other Tales by More, Hannah