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Cause of death help needed!

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Katwin

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:
Casey, Hull, Savill; Brentwood, East London

Katwin

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:
Casey, Hull, Savill; Brentwood, East London

:{{{0())~} Ian مْر

:{{{0())~} Ian مْر Report 25 Jan 2006 10:32

Would you like to scan it and email it? Ian

Katwin

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:
Casey, Hull, Savill; Brentwood, East London

Katwin

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:
Casey, Hull, Savill; Brentwood, East London

Dizzy Lizzy 205090

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

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:
Casey, Hull, Savill; Brentwood, East London

Dizzy Lizzy 205090

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

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

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:
Casey, Hull, Savill; Brentwood, East London