Genealogy Chat

Hi everyone Does anyone know what Retentio Secundarium would be as a cause of death? My great-great-great grandmother died of this 5 days after giving birth. The other cause of death recorded on the certificate is septaecemia. After googling, using arachaic medical terms websites, using latin dictionary, etc I haven't found a lot, but am assuming that perhaps the placenta didn't detach properly or something? Any ideas? Thanks! Jane

It is to do with the bones

I would think the same as you, about not clearing the placenta. Retentio sounds like retention and latin can quite often be close to the english. Secundarium... second birth? or something? I'll hit google see if I can make sense of it. But I would think that makes sense given the septacemia.

Looks like Retention of the Placenta.

Thanks Patricia. There's a secundarium bone in the foot but can't see how this would cause death so I get the feeling there might be another meaning too. Thanks Jane

It's odd because Secundarium does seem to have some thing to do with ossification and the bones. Perhaps ossification of a retained placenta? Where the placenta is retained and starts to putrify/bonify in the womb. You would need to find a latin specialist lol. But it does sound like septicemia from something to do with retention from the birth the logical option would be the placenta.

Thanks Liz, that was my train of thought with it too initially. Putrified placenta sounds absolutely vile! Thanks! Jane

It most certainly does *shudders*

Not all Doctors wrote perfect latin and I wonder if the secundarium bit means it was the secondary cause of death?Septicaemia being the primary cause of death. Is it definitely Secundarium and not Fecundarium?? Although I think it is pretty certainly the result of a retained, or partially retained placenta - perhaps an undiagnosed twin pregnancy? Poor soul, what a horrible way to die. OC

Hi Thanks for this. It does look like Secundarium - what is fecundarium though? The cause of death on the certificate lists this first followed by 4 days, then followed by septaecemia, so I would have thought the Rententio Secundarium would be the primary cause of death (if I am assuming correctly). I appreciate all your replies! Thanks! Jane

Ooh, OC, I never thought of that. It could well be, if a second baby died inside and wouldn't deliver; either cases can undergo ossification from what I recall (can you believe I have a biology degree lol). Hmm, looks like one of those things we won't be sure of. Something was definitely retained from the birth and it caused septicemia. Liz

Well, I don't know if there is such a word as fecundarium - but the latin root would be fecund, i.e. to do with fertility, so maybe womb??? But I am sure your version is right, mine is just a wild guess. OC

Thank you for all your replies everyone - it's certainly given me some ideas which I hadn't thought of before! Regardless, it sounds like a horrible way to die! Thanks again Jane

Hello Jane I have had great success with asking on this site, it sometimes takes a few days for a reply but he will get around to you. www.paul_smith.doctors.org.uk/ArchaicMedicalTerms.htm Rgds

Sorry to inject a light note into this really horrific subject, but it sounds a bit like one of Harry Potter's spells to me!!! Sorry, couldn't resist!

Thanks Maggie, I have dropped Paul an email just to get his opinion on it too, but I think those people who have been kind enough to reply are right in the theory that it was a retained placenta or undiagnosed twin pregnancy. Love the thought that it is a Harry Potter spell! :-) Thanks Jane