2.(Med.) Characterized by the presence of shock and cold skin.
Algid cholera (Med.), (a)A term formerly used for a classic untreated cholera (also called Asiatic cholera, caused by Vibrio cholerae); it is marked by three stages that succeed each other. These stages include a watery diarrhea stage, a stage of shock and collapse characterized by a cold skin and, the final stage of high fever. Patients usually die at the second stage of the disease.
(b)In its modern use, algid cholera refers to a cholera that has entered the second stage of the disease. In the 19th century, the term algid cholera referred to Asiatic cholera, to distinguish it from other less specific intestinal afflictions.