See quot. 1888.
1862. Breakbone … is a cousin-german to the typhus.—N.Y. Tribune, May 16 (Bartlett).
1866. Break-bone fever. For symptoms, see Flint, ‘Principia Medica’ (1880), p. 1073. (N.E.D.)
1878. The old man waved his hand toward it [the prairie] with the brief but expressive phrase, “break-bone fever,” and we retired to the cabin and evening fire.—J. H. Beadle, ‘Western Wilds,’ p. 27.
1888. It was “break-bone fever.” No one knowing about it can read these words and not feel a shudder. I believe it is not dangerous, but the patient is introduced, in a most painful manner, to every bone in his body…. I used to lie and speculate how one slender woman could possibly conceal so many bones under the skin.—Mrs. Custer, ‘Tenting on the Plains,’ p. 142.
1888. [My husband] was very sick. Break-bone fever had waited to do its worst with its last victim.—Id., p. 194.
