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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: jeanie68 on Thursday 04 November 10 17:54 GMT (UK)

Title: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: jeanie68 on Thursday 04 November 10 17:54 GMT (UK)
Hi

Have just received death cert for my x3 Grandfather Samuel Lingard (aged 79) and cause of death is senile decay - is this another way of saying old age or did he die of senile dementia?

Any help, as always, very much appreciated

Jeanie  ;)
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: AngelaR on Thursday 04 November 10 18:01 GMT (UK)
My understanding is that the medical terms pre 1900 were rather looser than our current ones, but senile decay definitely implies a lot more than old age. I think it roughly covers dementia but is a broader term.


According to this excellent site, it usually meant Alzheimers -

http://www.antiquusmorbus.com/English/Senility.htm

SS
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: Lydart on Thursday 04 November 10 18:01 GMT (UK)
I think either is possible ...  :(   :'(
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: genjen on Thursday 04 November 10 18:16 GMT (UK)
I think either is possible ...  :(   :'(

I would agree with that. I imagine it covers pretty much anything which could be put down to the effects of old age.

Jen
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: jeanie68 on Thursday 04 November 10 18:23 GMT (UK)
thanks for the swift replies. I always feel so sad when I get a death cert back cos I feel I have got to know them well through their BMD's. Am glad he just died of old age.

Secret Squirrel -  the website has also helped a great deal with other weird and wonderful death certs I've got, thanks again  :)
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: AngelaR on Friday 05 November 10 09:24 GMT (UK)
Glad you like the website jeanie68  :) I've found it incredibly useful in the past. You wouldn't believe how many different terms there are for TB for example, or even syphilis!

SS
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: sjaneo on Thursday 22 September 11 06:40 BST (UK)
Thanks for posting this I was just wondering why at least of the recent death certificates I got had senile decay.

In 1 family i've had 5 deaths with 2 different terms used to basically describe TB
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: LeeanneB on Wednesday 26 June 13 12:40 BST (UK)
I was quite interested to read this post, as I have also just received a death notice that states the cause of death as Senile Decay, however below that it says "years certified" - does anyone know what that refers to?  The place of death is the home address of my ancestor, so I assume it doesn't mean he was placed in a home or asylum or some such place.
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: Lydart on Wednesday 26 June 13 13:42 BST (UK)
Perhaps it means the number of years the doctor giving the cert has known the patient ...

... or ....

number of years the deceased may have had 'senile decay' ?


Perhaps someone else will know !
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: nanny jan on Wednesday 26 June 13 14:12 BST (UK)
Hi,

I think the "years certified" mean the number of years the person had the illness. Ive got death certs showing days/weeks/months or years.

Nanny Jan
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: avm228 on Wednesday 26 June 13 14:35 BST (UK)
Yes - "years certified" is the doctor's certification of the length of the illness.

Sometimes the doctor (presumably) didn't report a number of years so the registrar entered "years certified" without a number in front of it.
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: veeblevort on Wednesday 26 June 13 14:39 BST (UK)
I agree with nanny jan.The suggestion fits with my own collection
of death certificates. I even have one mentioning six hours (Cholera).

vv.
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: kesannah on Wednesday 26 June 13 15:31 BST (UK)
My Granddads Death Cert also had senile decay as the cause of death.  I made a point of asking the Doctor just what that meant as Granddad was not in the least forgetful and was very aware of things that were going on in the world. Doctors reply was it was another way of saying his body had worn out because of his  age, he was 92.
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: nanny jan on Wednesday 26 June 13 15:44 BST (UK)
HI,

One of my early death certs gives the cause as "decay of nature" which I guess is much the same as senile decay.

Nanny Jan
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: sallyyorks on Wednesday 26 June 13 18:54 BST (UK)
HI,

One of my early death certs gives the cause as "decay of nature" which I guess is much the same as senile decay.

Nanny Jan

I tried to find out what just the word  "decay" meant a while ago . 
I was studying my family in the  Keighley (WR Yorkshire)  Parish register c 1780s  (wich gives  a lot of info at that point in time",  eg place of residence , maiden names , d/o  , s/o , and causes of death) . I noticed that "decay" was given for all age groups , some were babies . Some had died in the workhouse  . I suspect it was being used as a catch all description in those cases i saw .
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: nanny jan on Wednesday 26 June 13 19:09 BST (UK)

Good point sallyyorks; in my case it was for a very old person.


Nanny Jan
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: LeeanneB on Wednesday 26 June 13 19:45 BST (UK)
Thanks everyone, for the replies  :).  There are no numbers in front of mine so the length will likely remain a mystery.
Title: Re: Cause of Death - Senile Decay
Post by: AncestrySearcher on Tuesday 26 December 23 02:38 GMT (UK)
I sure hope it’s not dementia! I couldn’t imagine all of my family dying from that! Senile Decay seems to be the most common cause of death for older people in my tree followed by probably Bronchitis & various heart issues.