Strange causes of death

[Graham47]

Of all my documents collected so far none have been death certificates, but given that past knowledge on matters medical was so vague it has got me wondering about the named causes of death and indeed, what others here have found recorded.

Intriguing to find would be such things as 'Raising of the Lights', 'Bad blood', 'Kings Evil', 'Miasma' and of course when all else fails (no pun intended) and the poor doctor did not have the foggiest idea - 'Visitation by God'.   

Actually, I did find the following for one of my great grandfathers who died in 1800   "..... the late Mr. John Allenby [of Tadcaster], who was killed by a fall from his horse while on his way to York market"

At least that was unambiguous! 

[rayard]

There's a website explaining old names for causes of death  www.antiquusmorbus.com
It's very interesting. (Without looking it up I think miasma was starvation of some sort.)
rayard.

[rayard]

Sorry I don't know how to correct my previous post, miasma is something to do with polluted air!!!
P. S. I've just found the "modify message" button  and used it to correct this!
rayard.

[stanmapstone]

Visitation of God is listed in the 1909 Manual of the International Causes of Death 2nd Revision As: Cause of death not specified or ill defined. It had been said that death from Visitation of God might imply a punishment from God of someone who was sinful, but it could also mean someone who was blessed by God because they were spared from enduring a distressing illness, or they were rewarded for their virtuous life by admission to heaven. . It was very common in the nineteenth century.
See http://www.antiquusmorbus.com/English/EnglishV.htm
Stan

[Jeuel]

One of my family died of "causes unknown" but there was no inquest.

[andrewalston]

From 1783 to 1812 the burial register for Croston, Lancashire has entries for cause of death. You can see the transcriptions on the Lancashire Online Parish Clerks site www.lan-opc.org.uk

Of course the clergy had to rely on what the relatives told them, so we need a bit of translation.

Reading through, you see waves of common childhood illnesses passing by, along with deaths from "childbed" and the ever-present tuberculosis. One infant died from St. Anthony's Fire - ergot poisoning. A 51-year-old man was "Bruised in fighting" in Wigan.

One of my relatives was "Casually poisoned" in 1788, which also tells us about a shift in the language. I think today we would use "Accidentally".

An earlier entry is undoubtedly intended as a caution - "Drownd wle. Nutting on ye Sunday".

[Graham47]

"Drownd wle. Nutting on ye Sunday". 

[annes]

A few of the interesting entries I've found while trawling through the Suffolk parish registers:

Lydia daughter of James GOSTLING and Mary his wife was buried March 15th (1762) “who dropt down dead in the churchyard as she was lowring her mother in ye grave”

"A shipwrecked stranger taken dead off a piece of wreck at sea and brought to shore and buried in March 5th (1733).  He dyed just as a boat got to him having been 2 or 3 days on the wreck pinched with hunger and cold as his 3 companions related that were alive"

6th September 1829
John Larum of Pakefield age 61 – fell down dead whilst hoeing turnips.

Many were simply stated as being "worn out".

[pinefamily]

Senile decay is one that always makes me wonder.