If you find you have characters who don’t have big enough obstacles to overcome, you might want to afflict them with an archaic medical disorder. Throughout history the medical profession has provided us with a wealth of colorful and gruesome sounding conditions.
Black tongue – A fever which prevailed in the western states (of U.S.) in the winter of 1842-3; probably typhoid fever.
Ictus Solis – Suntroke or inflammation of the brain or its membranes.
Worm Fits – symptoms include variable appetite, fetid breadth, acrid eructions (?) and pains in the stomach, grinding of the teeth during sleep, picking of the nose, paleness of the countenance, emaciation of the body, slow fever, and sometimes convulsive fits.
Visceroptosis – One or more internal organ has dropped. (?) Abdominal surgery is indicated.
Sideratio – The state of one struck suddenly, without apparent cause, and as if by the influence of the stars or planets. (‘We don’t know what the hell that was’ disease)
Plague of Venus – Syphilis
Cancer Scroti – Soot wart. Cancer of scrotum due to soot. (?)
Gangrænopsis – gangrenous inflammation of the eyelids.
Thank you to Antiquus Morbus for a great website.
