One of the more interesting causes of death to me was "brain fever." That's a term I've heard before but have never heard defined. Are they simply talking about someone who had a high fever, probably due to some bacterial or viral infection, that simply was delirious from the fever, or was it something else? Hal Vickery

Anyone who is really interested in learning more about what some Civil War participants went through, might want to go to the library and check out "Andersonville" by MacKinlay Cantor. It is a fictionalized account of life and death at one of the largest Confederate prisons. Fron what I have been able to learn, it is not far off the truth. (Prisoners of War in Union prisons didn't fare much better.)

I'm interested in these classifications of death we are discussing. Does anyone know of a book or journal that would categorize these? Possibly dating from the 1800s? Michelle SharHenke@aol.com wrote: > In a message dated 10/1/01 9:27:19 PM Central Daylight Time, > nymets11@pacbell.net writes: > > I am wondering if anyone would know what death by "decline" would mean? The > man died in 1885. > > Sharon > > ==== NYRENSSE Mailing List ==== > Archives: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl > Rensselaer County Genweb page: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyrensse/ > GenConnect Board: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/NY/Rensselaer > 1880 Fed Census: http://www.connorsgenealogy.com > To unsubscribe http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/usa/NY/rensselaer.html

If you look at the Civil War deaths I recently posted, you will see many Troy men died in Andersonville. -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com

Kind of like the opposite of "teething". -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com

>>what I don't see is "worm fever" Pat Connors, Sacramento CA<< Perhaps it is Trichinosis (sp?) from pork, which could be fatal. Below is from a website: What are the symptoms of trichinosis? The symptoms usually start with fever, muscle soreness, pain and swelling around the eyes. Thirst, profuse sweating, chills, weakness and tiredness may develop. Chest pain may be experienced since the parasite may become imbedded in the diaphragm (the thin muscle separating the lungs from abdominal organs). Brad Miter --

This was on Amazon.com. Is this the one? What Did They Mean By That? A Dictionary of Historical and Genealogical Terms, Old and New by Paul Drake J.D (Paperback - 2000) Special Order Our Price: $28.00

I'm frantically searching for the title and author of a book called something like "What Did They Mean By That?" that came out a few years ago which shouldf answer most questions. It was written by a woman, a medical doctor, whose first name I think was Janet. I hate when this happens! If anybody out there knows what I'm talking about, will they pease let me know?

Dropsy was actually a backing up of fluid into the legs and rest of the body causing swelling(edema) caused by congestive heart failure.

My 40 year old female ancestor died in Huron County, Ontario in 1880. The death registration says cause was "change of life". Rather disconcerting for me,a hot-flashing 50 year old!

This web site might be helpful to look up some causes of death.. http://members.aol.com/jweaver300/grayson/medterm.htm For a while I was stumped by the cause of death of my gr gr grandfather at the Andersonville prison in GA - scorbutus, or scurvey. Ann A. amadori@netzero.net --------------------------------------------------------------- NetZero Platinum Only $9.95 per month! Sign up in September to win one of 30 Hawaiian Vacations for 2! http://my.netzero.net/s/signup?r=platinum&refcd=PT97

Consumption was tuberculosis. Marjorie

Excellent site, Ann, thanks so much for sharing. Answered more of my questions, like: dropsy=heart failure Scrofula, I wonder if that is what was referred to as "scarfola" and just misspelled, I thought maybe it was another term for scarlet fever what I don't see is "worm fever" -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com

I also noticed one death cause was listed as something from the mill where the person worked got into his lungs which eventually caused his death. One thing I also believe and if someone knows better, be free to correct me. I believe, other than the hospital deaths, the enumerator got the death causes from the family when they went to the house to do the census. Different enumerators used different terms, especially with the Civil War deaths where there is a grid for the enumerator to check off. Some added addition comments that they must have gotten from the family. I have included them all because it really gives us a feeling for the time. -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com

I found the following for deaths of my ggrandparents in Ontario. My aunt was quite indignant when I told her grandparents had died of the following causes: c1910 Senility Severe senility Senility decay all terms for old age

Hadn't posted this for a while. thought it was time to try again. Looking for information on the following Abbott family members: James M. ABBOTT - born in Mass on June 15, 1815, died in September 1873 in Forestport, NY - lived in Herkimer and Oneida Counties, lumberman and farmer, wife Melissa Nichols, born in Sand Lake, NY Looking for James' parents names, where he and Melissa are buried Have found info about James and Melissa in the censuses, but nothing giving his parents info. Melissa died in 1889, as did her son, James K. Was there an epidemic in Oneida County NY about that time? George Nichols ABBOTT - marrried to Carrie Klinck, lived in Forestport, NY Louella ABBOTT - married George Harry Brown. She died in 1973 in Old Forge. Looking for information on her husband, her children, etc. she was the daughter of Edmund F. abbott and Lucy Traffarn. Louella and her parents are buried in the riverside Cemetary in the Town of Webb. Also looking for information on Louella's brothers, Harold and Lloyd, both born in Forestport NY. Harold had a son, named Harold also, whom apparently went to prison in Arizona. Would like to find out what his crime was and where he ended up. James K. ABBOTT - born May 1843, graduated from Albany Medical College, died in 1899 -wife's name was Jennie, and children Grace and Charles. May have had other children also. Looking for places buried, where he practiced, etc. son of James M. and Melissa Abbott Who did Grace and Charles marry? I have heard that Grace married an AINSWORTH, but can find no further information. John W. ABBOTT - looking for any information on John. I would like to find his wife's name, if he had any children, and where buried, Son of James and Melissa James ABBOTT - possibly James Timothy or Timothy James, any info. Son of George N. and Carrie Abbott Wife's name was Viola ? Ruth Ella Abbott - married Hugh Jones, where buried, marriage date, etc. Daughter of George and Carrie Abbott Hugh and Ruth Ella had at least one daughter, Carol, who married a Curtis. Nina ABBOTT - buried in Forestport NY, died at age 3, looking for name of cemetary where buried. Charles ABBOTT - died at age 17, possibly born in Forestport, looking for place buried - Son of George and Carrie Abbott Ella Melissa Abbott, born 1863, married Joseph GARDNER between 1882 and 1884 in Forestport, NY, died 1919 in Rochester, NY. Had children James, Grace, Ray and Charles. What happened to children? ANY information on these Abbott's would be a tremendous help. I have found many of these persons in census records for Oneida and herkimer Counties, and the Town of Webb Historical Society has been much help with Edmund Abbott, but I'm not having much luck with finding other records or information. Thank you, Georgiana

In a message dated 10/1/01 9:27:19 PM Central Daylight Time, nymets11@pacbell.net writes: I am wondering if anyone would know what death by "decline" would mean? The man died in 1885. Sharon

It is interesting to note one of the deaths was due to "hatters consumption" and if you will recall from Alice in Wonderland, the "Mad Hatter." This was quite common in hat manufacturers who used mercury in the process of making hats causing mercury poisoning. Resulting in madness and consumption.

I did find this on line but was unable to find death from temperance. The site I found had quite a few old medical terms defined. Kathy in WV DEATH FROM "TEETHING" -- Tooth infections with inflammation and cellulitis were clearly important causes of illness and death before there was adequate dentistry

On Mon, 1 Oct 2001, Pat Connors wrote: > Thank you everyone for letting me know consumption was tb. I feel > pretty dumb! But would rather you address your remarks to the list so > everyone can learn as I am. Yes, I was also astounded about how many > children were listed as dying from "teething". When my kids were little > I blamed their diaper rash and crankiness on teething but to die from > it?? But, guess it is just the ignorance of the time. I plead guilty to sending my response to you rather than the list. I'm used to the process on another list in which the same commands I used would have put me to the list instead of sending it directly to you. My apologies. > > Another question. A couple died from "temperance". Does this mean > alcoholism? I think the cause was listed as "intemperence." That would have been alcoholism. Hal Vickery