This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Pilkington Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/jUB.2ACI/673 Message Board Post: Just received a death certificate on relative who died in 1907. It describes, briefly, that he died of "exhaustion from shock and toxemia in strangulation; secondary cause of death was left inguinal hernia and epilepsy." This means that during the 7 months of his stay at Brunswick House (Jan - July), his treatment was clearly not adequate to save his life. Can anyone tell me if (1) they had a treatment for inguinal hernia? (2) Did they have the knowledge in 1907 to have performed some surgical procedure to repair the leakage? and (3) why if he was there for 7 months, did he die of what must have been a very painful ailment anyway? Then there's the issue of epilepsy. Can that have really contributed to his problem? PS: Brunswick House in 1907 was a facility that treated epileptics only. I'd appreciate any information anyone can offer to shed some light on what happened to Reuben Pilkington. In calling Brunswick, they informed me the medical records for him were "destroyed" an! d are done so after 7 years. Can that be true? Isn't there some kind of archive? Would the treating physician have those records? Okay, okay, I'll shut up now. Sheila