Genealogy Chat
Welcome to the Genes Reunited community boards!
- The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
- You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
- And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
- The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.
Quick Search
Single word search
Icons
- New posts
- No new posts
- Thread closed
- Stickied, new posts
- Stickied, no new posts
Cause of death help needed!
Profile | Posted by | Options | Post Date |
---|---|---|---|
|
Katwin | Report | 25 Jan 2006 10:12 |
I have just received my 3xgt-grandfather's Death Certificate (1850) from the GRO and would appreciate help in reading the cause of death. It looks like Abs???? Debility Certified. Has anyone come across anything like it? Kathyx |
|||
Researching: |
|||
|
Katwin | Report | 25 Jan 2006 10:19 |
I have looked at all the old medical term sites I can find. Am I right in thinking that a double-s is written like an f? In which case I am wondering if it is abcess, but could someone die of abscess debility? Kathyx |
|||
Researching: |
|||
|
:{{{0())~} Ian مْر | Report | 25 Jan 2006 10:32 |
Would you like to scan it and email it? Ian |
|||
|
Katwin | Report | 25 Jan 2006 10:37 |
Thanks Ian - could you send me have your e-mail addy and I'll do that. Have scanned and sent it now - what do you think? Kathy |
|||
Researching: |
|||
|
Katwin | Report | 25 Jan 2006 11:12 |
Hi Ian, Drat and other words of annoyance!! My e-mail was just now returned with a permanent fatal error!!! Kathy |
|||
Researching: |
|||
|
Dizzy Lizzy 205090 | Report | 25 Jan 2006 11:15 |
The only term beginning 'Abs' on http://www.paul_smith.doctors.org.uk/ArchaicMedicalTerms.htm is Absinthism, a form of delirium tremens caused by drinking absinthe. Could that be it? From the same website: Debility: Literally, means lack of movement or staying in bed, but usually means simply illness, although it can imply weakness. Often used in nervous debility Liz |
|||
|
Katwin | Report | 25 Jan 2006 11:23 |
Thanks Liz, He was Irish I believe and may well have had a drink problem, (lol) but the word is shorter than that. Its just the end of the word I can't make out - looks like a loop above and below with a curly bit in front and behind. Could that be old English writing for ss? Kathy |
|||
Researching: |
|||
|
Dizzy Lizzy 205090 | Report | 25 Jan 2006 11:30 |
You could try my email addy - will pm it to you. Liz x |
|||
|
Dizzy Lizzy 205090 | Report | 25 Jan 2006 11:57 |
Thanks for sending the scan - I think it says Abscess Debility. The double s is sometimes written in that loopy way. My guess is that he had a very nasty abscess (who knows where lol), took to his bed and didn't get up again. Liz x |
|||
|
Katwin | Report | 25 Jan 2006 12:03 |
Hi Ian and Liz, Many thanks for looking at the scanned certificate for me. I too think the long s is a double s, something similar to the German. Everything else on the certificate is clear except that one word. So I am going to accept it is Abcess Debility - I don't think penicillin was invented then, so he would have died of septicaemia (wrong spelling, I'm sure, but I mean blood poisoning). Not very descriptive cause of death though!!! Cheers, Kathy |
|||
Researching: |