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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: jeanie68 on Thursday 04 November 10 17:54 GMT (UK)
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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 ;)
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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
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I think either is possible ... :( :'(
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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
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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 :)
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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
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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
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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.
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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 !
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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
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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.
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I agree with nanny jan.The suggestion fits with my own collection
of death certificates. I even have one mentioning six hours (Cholera).
vv.
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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.
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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
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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 .
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Good point sallyyorks; in my case it was for a very old person.
Nanny Jan
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Thanks everyone, for the replies :). There are no numbers in front of mine so the length will likely remain a mystery.
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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.