Looking at the
cause of death on our older
certificates it can be hard to determine
what actually caused the death due to the usage of some archaic
terms not normally used today.
Sometimes
it is a case the cause given is more of a symptom seen, as many of these
certificates were issued before knowledge of infectious diseases. So
seeing the "Black Pox" the "Blue Pox" etc is not unusual or even 'Act of
God'
Sometimes you might even see Causa Mortis
Incognita which means the cause of death was not known and the doctor wrote it in Latin rather than admit in English they didn't have a clue!
To celebrate the release of the second edition of my book Death
Certificates and Archaic Medical Terms I am going to share some terms
here, with another 1500 terms plus available in the book.
The book also examines the
history and evolution of death certificates. When did they start? What
is on them and why it can be a case of "Buyer Beware". What were the legal requirements? What does it mean when a
death is certified? Why aren't all deaths certified?
This
title is available in book form from several retailers across the
world, along with titles from many other excellent genealogy authors.
The outlets are:
Gould Genealogy (Australia)
My History (UK)
Global Genealogy (Canada)
Maia's Books (United States)
It is also available as an ebook from gen-ebooks
Abdominal
Angina: sharp pain in the abdomen
caused by insufficient blood supply often occurs a couple of hours of eating
Abdominal
Dropsy: Abnormal accumulation of fluid
in abdominal cavity
Abortus: Miscarriage (Latin)
Absinthism: symptoms such as delirium tremens seen in Alcoholism.
Absinthe is an aromatic herb was used to flavour alcohol particularly in Europe
Act of God: When death has occurred, often suddenly without a
known reason, possibly stroke or aneurysm
Addison’s Disease: A rare, chronic condition brought about by the
failure of the adrenal glands to produce cortisol
and aldosterone. Thomas Addison first identified the disease in 1855 while
working at Guy’s Hospital in London.
At that time, the main cause of the disease was as a complication of tuberculosis
Aden Fever: Dengue fever
Albuminuria:
excess of albumin in urine often seen in kidney disease
Angina
Membranacea: see Diphtheria (Latin)
Anthracnosis: Occupational disease of coal miners due to prolonged
exposure to the coal dust results in fibrosis of lungs due to
deposition of anthracite coal dust in the lungs
Apoplexia
Cordis: Heart Attack (Latin)
Autumnal
Catarrh: Hay fever
Bacillary
Dysentery: Dysentery caused by
bacteria Shigella dysenteriae
Bacteraemia: Presence of bacteria in blood
Bad Blood: see Syphilis, an infectious venereal disease
Baghdad Boil: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis caused by
parasitic protozoans of the genus Leishmania. It is transmitted by sand flies
Bang’s
Disease: Brucellosis caused by
Brucella bacteria: can be found in contaminated milk, dairy products or with
animal exposure particularly pigs, goats and cattle
Barometer
Makers Disease: mercury poisoning
Belly Bound: Constipated
Bilious
attack: Gastric
distress caused by a disorder of the liver or gall bladder
Black
Consumption: Occupational disease of
coal miners. Due to prolonged exposure to the coal dust results in fibrosis of
lungs
Black
Mortification: Gangrene
Blackwater
Fever: Dark urine associated with high
temperature and breakdown of red blood cells, seen in malaria
Bladder in
Throat: Diphtheria which causes a
pseudo-membrane in the throat
Bleeder’s
Disease: Haemophilia
Blue Baby: baby born with blue appearance. Usually due to a
heart defect (generally a ventricular defect) which does not allow the blood to
become fully oxygenated
Bowel
Hives: Enteritis,
diarrhoea. Could be caused by a range of diseases
Brassfounder’s
Ague: Caused by inhalation of metal
fumes when heating metals especially zinc
Bright's
Disease: Inflammatory disease of
kidneys may be acute or chronic. Ranked high as a cause of death 18th
to early 20th centuries. Can be any of a range of diseases with the
symptom of albuminuria (increased albumin (protein) in urine) First described
by Dr Richard Bright in 1827
Bronze
Diabetes: Caused by problem of iron
overload which causes the skin to take on a bronze tint such as with
haemochromatosis. Usually a genetic condition although iron overload has
occurred in people long term home brewing in cast iron containers.
Haemachromatosis
Camp Fever: Typhus. May also be typhoid fever caused by the
bacteria Salmonella Typhi or in malaria. Continuing fevers seen in the army,
particularly in the US Civil War
Cancrum Oris: Deep ulcer of lip and cheek often seen in young
children in poor hygiene conditions
Canine Madness: Rabies, hydrophobia
Carcinoma Prostata: Prostate cancer (Latin)
Causa Mortis
Incognita: Cause death not known (Latin)
Cerebral
Congestion: Bacterial or viral
infection of the brain (Meningitis/encephalitis)
Cerebrospinal
Fever: meningitis, may be bacterial or
viral in origin
Change of
Life: Menopause
Costiveness: Constipation, retention of faeces in bowels
Cottonpox: Milder form of smallpox Variola Minor
Cramp Colic: Possibly appendicitis or, food poisoning. As a
symptom it is hard to be sure of actual causative medical condition
Dead Palsy: Loss of motion or feeling in a part of the body,
probably after effects of a stroke
Death Struck: apoplexy, stroke
Decay of
Nature: Old age usually
Decrepita
Aetas: Old age
Decrepitude: Feebleness often due to old age
Dentito: Cutting of teeth, often characterised with fevers in
children (Latin)
Diphtheria: Contagious acute disease of the upper respiratory
tract where a membrane can grow across throat caused by bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The
bacteria produces toxins which can affect most of the organs of body
Dock Fever: Yellow fever
Domestic
Illness: Mental breakdown (more
usually used for women)
Dropsy: Swelling from accumulation of fluid, often caused by
kidney disease or congestive cardiac failure
Egyptian
Chlorosis: Hookworm causing anaemia
Empyema: Pus often in chest cavity around the external lining
of the lung
Enteric Fever: Typhoid fever caused by a bacteria Salmonella Typhi
Epidemic
Fever: Typhus
Epidemic
Cholera: Asiatic cholera
Epidemic Parotitis: Mumps
Ergotism: A convulsive disease caused from ingesting the
mycotoxins from mould on spoiled grain. The Calviceps
purpurea fungus produces alkaloids and ingestion of these cause long term
poisoning
Ergotoxicosis: see Ergotism
Erythroblastosis Fetali: Haemolytic disease of the
newborn (Latin)
Exhaustion
From Cold and Want: Starvation and
hypothermia
Falling
Sickness: Epilepsy
Famine Fever: Typhus
Febris: Fever (Latin)
Febris
Delirio: Fever with delirium (Latin)
Febris
Dysenterica: Fever with bloody faeces
Febris
Morbillosa: Measles (Latin)
Filth Disease: Typhoid caused by Salmonella Typhi
Fort Bragg Fever: Leptospirosis
Galloping
Consumption: Tuberculosis with symptoms
showing rapidly even though illness would have been present for a time period
Gaol Fever: Typhus
Gibraltar
Fever: Brucellosis caused by Brucella bacteria: can be found in
contaminated milk, dairy products or with animal exposure particularly pigs,
goats and cattle
Glomerulonephritis: Inflammation of both kidneys See Bright’s Disease
Haemachromatosis: Inherited iron overload disorder
causes the body to absorb more iron than usual from food. It results in excess
iron being stored throughout the body and can result in skin pigmentation,
diabetes and heart failure. Over time, the liver enlarges becomes damaged and
can lead to serious diseases such as cirrhosis
Halstern’s
Disease: see Syphilis
Hanot’s
Disease: Cirrhosis of liver
Hansen’s
Disease: see Leprosy
Hatter's
Disease: Mercury poisoning affects
central nervous system
Hooping Cough: see Whooping cough
Hookworm: Infection by hookworm Ancylostoma duodenale and Nectator
americanus parasitic nematode worms are abundant throughout the world,
including in the following areas: southern Europe, North
Africa, India, China, south east Asia, some areas in the United States, the Caribbean, and South America. Enters body through soles of feet. This
hookworm is well known in mines because of the consistency in temperature and
humidity that provide an ideal habitat for egg and juvenile development. Ancylostoma duodenal can be ingested in
contaminated food and water but most common route and only route for Nectator americanus is through
penetration of the skin. Anaemia major effect due to loss of iron and blood
Horrors: Delirium tremens: Hallucinations due to alcoholism
Imposthume: Abscess, collection of purulent matter
Jail fever: Typhus
King’s Evil: Tuberculosis of neck and lymph glands, scrofula.
There was a belief the disease could be cured by the touch of the king
Lepra
Syphilitica: Syphilis
Little’s
Disease: Cerebral palsy first
described by William John Little (1810-1894), British
physician
Locked Jaw/Lockjaw: Tonic spasm of the muscles of mastication, causing
the jaws to remain rigidly closed. Usually refers to tetanus
Lues Disease: Syphilis
Mad Hatter
Syndrome: Mercury poisoning affects
central nervous system. Occupational disease of hatmakers who used the mercury
to stiffen the felt
Malarial
Cachexia: Generalised state of
debility that is marked by anaemia, jaundice, splenomegaly, and emaciation.
Results from long-continued chronic malarial infection
Malignant Fever: Typhus
Marasmus: Severe malnutrition. Failure to thrive, usually used for young children
Marasmus
Senilis: Wasting or decay of body in
aged persons
Mariner Disease: Scurvy
Mediterranean
Fever: Brucellosis caused by Brucella
bacteria: can be found in contaminated milk, dairy products or with animal
exposure particularly pigs goats and cattle
Membranous
Croup: Diphtheria
Miasma: Before knowledge of infectious diseases the poisonous/bad
smelling vapours thought to infect the air and cause disease
Miner’s
Anaemia: See Hookworm
Morbid
Intemperance: Alcoholism, overuse of
alcohol
Morbus: Disease, sickness
Morbus
Brightii: Bright’s disease, kidney
disease which may be acute or chronic
Morbus Sacer: Epilepsy. It has been believed in the past that
epileptics were ‘God-Touched’
Nautical
Fever: Typhus on board ship
Necrosis: Death of cells, tissue or bone through injury or
disease
Ohara's Fever: Tularaemia
Overlaid/Overlain:
To lie over or upon a child so as to cause the child to suffocate
Pea-picker's
Disease:
Leptospirosis
Phosphorus Necrosis of the Jaw: Disease caused by contact or use of white phosphorous
poisoning, often seen in matchmakers. Disease characterised by deterioration of
bone especially lower jaw
Phthisis: Tuberculosis
Plague of
Venus: Syphilis
Quick
Consumption: Faster onset
of tuberculosis symptoms, Galloping Consumption
Quintana
Fever: Trench Fever
Rag-Pickers
Disease: Malignant pustule and febrile
disease probably anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis
Ratcatchers’
Disease: Caused by Leptospirosis a
bacterial disease often found in urine of rodents, (also known as Weil's
syndrome, Mud fever, Field fever, Canefield fever, 7 day fever, Black Jaundice)
Can also be the Bubonic Plague depending on time period and occurrence of
plague among rats in the area
Rising of the
Lights: Believed to be pleurisy, croup
or some infection of the lungs
Rocky Mountain Spotted
Fever: Acute rickettsial disease (Rickettsia rickettsia) transmitted by ticks.
Major symptoms similar to epidemic typhus (headache, joint and back pain,
prostration high fever which can progress to neurological symptoms and
death).The rash covers whole body including palms and soles of feet. The 20-25%
fatality rate in untreated patients makes it the most severe rickettsial
infection in the Americas.
Can also occur in Canada,
the USA Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama
and Brazil.
Also known as Black Measles, Blue Disease due to the dark rash
Roseola Infantum: Sudden rash affecting infants and younger children
caused by a virus Human Herpes Virus 6B or
Human Herpes Virus 7 also known as Sixth Disease
Saint Gothard
Anaemia: Hookworm
Scarlet Fever: Fever caused by a bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes generally presents as very sore throat, rash
and fever. Before the availability of antibiotics, scarlet fever was a major
cause of death. It also sometimes caused late complications, such as
glomerulonephritis and endocarditis leading to heart valve disease (Rheumatic
Fever), all of which were protracted illnesses and often fatal
Scurvy: Caused by lack of vitamin C which is required for
collagen production in humans. Seen most often in sailors, soldiers or in
starvation situations e.g. Irish Famine where people are unable to obtain fresh
fruit or vegetables. Characterised by softening of the gums, haemorrhages under
the skin and general debility can lead to death
Senectus
Ultima: Old age
Sore Throat
Distemper: Diphtheria or quinsy
Spanish
Flu: Influenza pandemic of
1918-1919. So called as Spain
at the time had no censorship of its newspapers and the outbreak was heavily
reported there before being reported in countries with censorship due to World
War One (even though illnesses had already occurred in those places). Exact
origin of this strain of the influenza virus not known, postulated it could be
the USA or China or indeed Europe
St Erasmus
Disease: Colic
St Fiacre’s
Disease: Haemorrhoids
St Gervasius
Disease: Rheumatism
St Gete’s
Disease: Carcinoma
St Gile’s
Disease: Leprosy or Carcinoma
St
Hubert’s Disease:
Hydrophobia, rabies
St Job’s
Disease: see Syphilis
St
John’s Dance: see St
Vitus Dance
St
John’s Evil:
Epilepsy
St Main’s
Disease: Scabies
St Vitus
Dance: Also called Sydenham's chorea.
Characterised by jerky, uncontrollable movements associated with rheumatic
fever caused by the bacteria Streptococcus
pyogenes
Stonemason’s
Lung: Occupational Lung disease
suffered by stonemasons due to inhalation of stone dust
Summer
Complaint: Diarrhoea usually in
infants/young children.. Possibly from spoiled food or milk which is more
likely to spoil in summer
Thresher’s
Fever: Acute inflammation of the lungs
caused by a hypersensitivity reaction of the lung after contact with mould
spores from hay, straw and other crops. Occupational disease
Throat Fever: Probably scarlet fever or could be diphtheria
Trench Foot: Condition caused by prolonged exposure to damp, cold,
unsanitary conditions. Foot becomes cold, numb, mildly swollen. If untreated
can progress to blisters and ulcers, tissue dies resulting in gangrene
Particular problem on the western Front in World War One
Tuberculosis: Infectious disease of humans and animals
caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium
tuberculosis and characterised by the formation of tubercles on the lungs
(around 90% of the time) and other tissues of the body, often developing long
after the initial infection. The M. tuberculosis complex consists of four other
TB-causing mycobacteria: M. bovis, M. africanum, M. canetti, and M. microti. M. bovis was once a very common
form of tuberculosis but this has markedly decreased as a public health issue
with the advent of pasteurised milk in developed countries. The other three
mycobacteria are rarer causes of tuberculosis
Tularaemia: Infectious
disease caused by the intracellular bacterium Francisella tularensis.
Found in rabbits, hares and pikas in North America.
The disease is named after Tulare
County, California.
(also Pahvant Valley Plague, Rabbit
Fever, Deer Fly Fever, or Ohara’s
Fever)
Typhoid Fever: An enteric fever caused by the bacteria Salmonella Typhi. This
was not known in earlier days so Typhoid and Typhus which had many similar
symptoms were often confused. Typhoid was often more common in the summer months
and warmer weather
Typhoid
Fever of India: Asiastic Cholera
Typhus: caused by the Rickettsia bacterium (Rickettsia prowazeki) transmitted by
bites from lice (particularly the human body louse). The epidemic or classic
form is louse borne; the endemic or murine is flea borne. It is marked by high continued fever lasting from two to three weeks,
stupor alternating with delirium, intense headache and by
a copious eruption of dark red spots upon the body. Thirty percent plus of
patients die. More commonly seen in winter potentially as spread by bite of
insect with the colder weather clothes were not changed as often although can
occur all year around
Variola: Smallpox, highly
contagious viral disease characterised by fever and weakness and skin eruption
with pustules that form scabs that slough off leaving scars in around 65-80%
survivors. Has around 30-35% mortality rate. Blindness occurs in around 5%
survivors. Last case seen in 1977 and the disease is believed to be eradicated
Variola Major: Most severe and most
common form of smallpox, had around 30-35% mortality rate
Variola Minor: A milder form of smallpox causing less
mortality (only about 1% of cases are fatal compared to 30-35% in Variola major)
Variola
Sine Eruptione: Smallpox with rash seen in some vaccinated people
War Fever: Epidemic Typhus caused by the Rickettsia bacterium
transmitted by bites from human body louse see Typhus
White Plague: Tuberculosis
Yellow Fever: An acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by
bite of mosquito A. aegypti infected
with a Flavivirus. Found in Africa south of the Sahara and equatorial South America. (Yellow jack, American Plague, Bronze
John, Dock Fever)
