Genealogy Chat

Hi folks - I came across this web site - antiquusmorbus.com - which is A Glossary of Archaic Medical terms, diseases and causes of Death. I know know that the small g.g.grand-aunt who died from Phthisis according to her death certificate actually died of Pulmonary consumption, in other words, tuberculosis. Regards, Rita

Rita Phthisis is a commonly-used term for pulmonary tb - its not wrong, its just what it used to be called, just as before that it was called consumption. nell

Whats the term that means Exhausted and Dropped Dead? I'm waiting for a cert for a woman who had 10 children in about as many years and am wondering whether this will be the cause of death. I know I've seen it on here somewhere. Lisa

Thanks for that information Rita. I have just looked up a couple of illnesses my ancestors died of which I wasnt quite clear about. The site makes interesting reading

http://www.paul_smith.doctors.*org.uk/ArchaicMedicalTerms.htm this site is good, if its not on there , the doctor will answer your query.

Lisa Dont know the term you mean, though it would probably have been used a lot!!! 'Syncope' is one that occurs often - it means fainting but is used to mean dropped dead. Not so much a cause of death, more stating the bloomin' obvious. I've noticed in certs that the early ones say things like 'decay' and 'disease of heart and lungs' and the terms get more complicated and technical. My husband's grandmother, who died 1987 has on her death cert: Ia cardiac failure b ischaemic heart disease c chronic lymphoid leukaemia II osteo-arthritis old age Well gosh, I'm not surprised she died really! nell

My great-aunt (a domestic servant) died aged 26 in 1867. (Our family specialises in long drawn-out generations!) Her cause of death was 'Diseased foot 10 months Disease of brain 2 weeks'. Any suggestions? Blood poisoning? Cancer? ......... Liz