During Colonial America, which was a time when Europeans came and settled in what is now America, people didn't have the same understanding of germs and illness that we have today. So when people got sick, they didn't always know why or how it happened.
There were also many diseases that were very common back then, and some of them could be deadly if not treated properly. Some of the diseases that were common in Colonial America were smallpox, yellow fever, and tuberculosis.
People didn't have vaccines or medicines like we do today, so they had to use other methods to try to prevent and treat illness. They might use herbs and other natural remedies, or they might try to avoid people who were sick.
Some colonies had laws that required people who were sick to stay away from others, or to wear certain clothing to show that they were sick. They also had doctors who would try to help people who were sick, but their methods were not always effective.
Overall, disease was a very common and serious problem in Colonial America, and people had to rely on their own knowledge and resources to try to keep themselves healthy.