[QUOTE=cckerberos]
Well, the OED gives “a term for inflammation of the brain, ‘and also for other fevers, as typhus, with brain complications’”, so perhaps typhus?
[/QUOTE]
It is interesting to read the old descriptions of cuase of death and speculate what their modern, true terminology would be;
‘Apoplexy’ was usually a stroke
‘Neuralgia’ must be chronic depression.
‘Blasphemous female pollution’ probably something to do with periods.