Unusual causes of death

[Pippakit]

Another one from my family, my great granddad's brother in August 1867:

"George Brewer, aged nine years, on Monday last was near a thrashing machine at work at Butterdon Farm, when both his legs were cut in the machine. The left leg, which was much injured, had to be amputated, and the right leg, which was broken, was set by Dr. Hingston. The boy, however, died on Wednesday".

[Billyblue]

Just looked up what marasmus is - says malnutrition.

Marasmus is SEVERE malnutrition.  You can be malnourished and still walking around.
But babies and old people can get very severe malnutrition from which they don't recover.

Dawn M

[kevinf2349]

While researching a relative I found this one.

GENERAL NEWS.others. Maggie McDonald, an Edinburgh girl has met death by being struck on the head with a flower-box, which felt from the window of a house on the third floor.

Ouch!

[Churchie]

How about indigestion - 81 days duration....

[Willow 4873]

Surely that was mis-diagnosed and it was heart trouble?!

Willow x

[johnxyz]

I'm feeling in a macabre mood, so can I add:

Seven relatives in one village in the late 1700s with "Distemper. Mortification in his / her  bowels" and similar.

 
"Accidentally crushed in the forehatch of the Mabel Grace by a collision with the Norwegian Steam Packet Lisa"  - that one made The Times.


and one totally unconnected to me, a burial  taken from the parish records of Alstonfield, Staffordshire:

1658 Dec 27 Buried. Widowe Baylie, a poor woman of Sheen who coming from Lee Hall on Christmas Day in the forenoon was drowned in the Dove, in the foard at the Load End; she ryding behind her daughter, the watter being verie bigge her head sweed and fell backward in the watter, and was carried down neare to the Milne before she was taken out.

[mirl]

I have a female relative who was starved to death by her father and step-mother as proven in a court of law.

[GrahamSimons]

Stirling Observer 26 September 1844

JAMES SCOTT, accused of culpable homicide, "in so far as, on the 25th day of July, 1844, Dewar & Co , coach proprietors in Stirling, having started a new coach for the conveyance of goods and passengers between Stirling and Alloa Ferry, by a road on the south side of the river Forth, the said James Scott did wickedly, culpably and recklessly drive the said stage coach at so rapid and furious a pace, that, at or near Poppletrees Pow, the said stage coach was upset, and thereby William Jaffray, farmer, Skeoch, was thrown off, and in consequence of the concussion, was so grievously bruised and otherwise injured that he soon thereafter died." The prisoner pleaded not guilty. A new Jury having been empanelled, the case went to trial.

There follows what seems to be a verbatim report of the trial.

Lord Wood, at great length, summed up the evidence; and the Jury, after retiring for a quarter of an hour, returned a verdict finding, by a majority of the panel guilty, but without intent to injure, and strongly recommending him to the leniency of the Court. Sentence, 1 month's imprisonment in the county jail of Clackmannan.

William Jaffray was my great-great-grandfather.

[Les de B]

Here is a transcript of an 1831 letter regarding the death of my wife's 4 x g grandfather. The letter was written by the daughter, my wife's 3 x g grandmother. An interesting last sentence.

Les

========

My poor father was in great pain on the 10th June (1831), and had been so for a month. A physician was sent for and he advised him to have his right leg amputated as mortification had begun, and death was certain. Three doctors were called and they said it would give him a chance and the operation would not be so much as his sufferings were in one day. He wished to be done Monday 13th June at ˝ past 3 o’clock. I came to town every day and sat by his bed side. On the 14th I said, “Father are you sorry you had your leg taken off?”. He said, “No, I am very glad as I am in no pain and I leave myself entirely to God. His will be done”.

We all had hopes of his recovery, and he appeared to be doing well and felt quite easy, although I am sure he knew he would not get better. On Friday 17th the doctors examined his stump and pronounced a continuation of mortification and death in a few hours. He asked for us all. My mother had to be sent for. He could not speak at 2 o’clock, but was quite sensible till the last moment. He took us all by the hand and a minute before he departed he took his night cap off and waved it three times and threw it away as much to say, “I am going – farewell”.