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What was a lunger in the Old West?

Question:

What was a lunger in the Old West?

The Old West

In the Old West, people often had slang words and phrases for certain types of people and things, many of which were very derogatory. Be it a person, a business, or a disease, people always labeled something based on prejudice or fear.

Answer and Explanation:

In the Old West, a "lunger," was someone suffering from tuberculosis, aka "consumption." Since this disease affected the lungs, the term was seen as a very offensive slang term.


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Daily Life in the Wild West During the 1800s

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Chapter 19 / Lesson 2
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Learn about life in the west in the 1800s and the culture of the west. Discover women of the old west and an overview of the establishment of civilization.


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