Potomac fever (1940)

[Mullins, Bill AMRDEC]

>
> The use of "*the* Potomac fever" instead of simply "Potomac
> fever" is a nice Southernism. I still remember the time when
> a child of the family across the street from us in Texas died
> of "the diptheria."

I hear people say that someone has "the cancer" often (North Alabama,
Middle TN).

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