Unusual causes of death

[Nick29]

My grandmother's step-father fell into a pond and drowned.  We suspect that he may have had a few too many in the pub ! 

[sharmar]

How about a 3 month old baby being struck by lightening while in the arms of her grandmother!.  Grandmother survived.

This was my great grandmother and by grandfathers baby sister.

[Magrat]

Hi,

My gggrandfather 'choked on his pudding (compaction of food)'.  When I got this cert. my husband commented that at least he had had time to enjoy his first course.

Magrat

[Kevinshouse]

When I went to collect a certificate from our local Registry Office, the Registrar who is very interested in family history (I know her quite well now) showed me a register from the 1850s.  Entered on one page were about 8 people from the local Asylum - one a child  of 8 years had died of worm infestation.  Apparently the people registered had died of various complaints and had died over the previous few weeks, but were registered in a block when the person in charge came into town.  I found this all very interesting and also very, very sad.
Kind regards Susan

[will-o-wisp]

Whilst not an unusual cause of death - I wonder if any 'chatters' can explain the cause of death I found on a 1905 death certificate for a 6 month old baby:-
Spinal caries
Psoas abscess
Marasmus.
Could this possibly have been what we now know as Spina Bifida?
Will-o-Wisp

[kennyg]

Description of 4 XGGrandfather's suicide;

"4th January 1871, 5 pm,  The Mine Plantation, Abercorn    

Cause of Death:  Haemorrhage from a cut on the throat inflicted by the deceased himself with a razor – death was immediate
   
Age:68"

End of the first working day of the New Year - given his age, wonder if he had just been made redundant?
 

[Viktoria]

Whilst not an unusual cause of death - I wonder if any 'chatters' can explain the cause of death I found on a 1905 death certificate for a 6 month old baby:-
Spinal caries
Psoas abscess
Marasmus.
Could this possibly have been what we now know as Spina Bifida?
Will-o-Wisp
[/I would think so as a psoas abscess is an abscess of  the loins which is the area where the spinal lesion of spina bifida occurs and marasmus is a wasting away    , what a shame , poor little baby .Viktoria.                             quote]

[wildtech]

Some of my relatives were dyers by trade and one of their children fell into a boiling vat of dye.

We may find health and safety regulations petty sometimes but they do prevent many accidents

Another relative from New Zealand was thrown from their carriage when the horse bolted, her husband survived.  In the newspaper report it said "...the carriage was smashed to atoms".  Yes the Victorians liked their hyperbole.

[Nick29]

Whilst not an unusual cause of death - I wonder if any 'chatters' can explain the cause of death I found on a 1905 death certificate for a 6 month old baby:-
Spinal caries
Psoas abscess
Marasmus.
Could this possibly have been what we now know as Spina Bifida?
Will-o-Wisp

Could be, or it could be the symptoms of inherited syphilis.