Genealogy Chat

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I've just received a death cert and the cause of death is: Anasarca, 6 weeks Hyduthorax, 2 weeks I've looked on the Paul Smith site and I understand it to be something to do with heart failure, fluid. Could someone explain it a bit better though as I can't quite grasp it. It obviously isn't just a heart attack as he was diagnosed with one conidtion 6 weeks before death, and the other, 2 weeks. Sorry to sound really thick! Also, I've only just started getting death certs. I have one from 1940, and another, 1972, both for females, and husbands are named. This cert is from 1853, for a male, his wife isn't mentioned? (his son was present at death) Is that normal for a wife not to be mentioned? I'm worried now incase he's not mine and I have the cert for a single chap!! Cheers Helen

Can't help with the causes of death, but the death certificate for a man won't mention his wife unless she is the informant, whereas a woman's death certificate from the 1800's will usually say in the occupation column 'wife of...... or widow of...........' and give the husbands name. Kath. x

hiya, have you tried googling the causes of death? i find that is useful sometimes, also death certs did change over the years, nowadays there is usually more info on them than in days gone by hope this helps Julie

hiya again, there is this site which can help with how things change on certs, http://home*clara*net*dixons*Certificates replace * with dots Julie

Both of these medical terms refer to fluid retention... hydrothorax... An accumulation of serous fluid in the cavity of the chest. anasarca This condition is always associated with the retention of sodium and occurs when more than 3 litres of interstitial fluid collects. The principle site of collection of fluid varies with respect to the underlying pathology. Periorbital oedema is seen more often in renal failure, ascites occurs in cirrhosis, and pulmonary and ankle oedema may occur in cardiac failure. The causes of generalised oedema are, in general, the result of either an increased venous pressure (eg right heart failure), or a decrease in intravascular oncotic pressure (hypoalbuminaemia - test the urine of patients with bilateral swollen legs for albumin). Anasarca is a term used to describe gross oedema. OEDEMA... Oedema (oedema) is a build-up of excess fluid in the body tissues. If the fluid is in the tissue under the skin it leads to a puffy, shiny appearance and a doughy feel. Most commonly, oedema is seen in the ankles or legs, as the fluid is gravity-dependent. Georgina.

Don't worry about the wife not being mentioned o the death cert......that's normal! Dead women, on the other hand, usually have ''wife of X'' or ''widow of X'' under occupation (LOL) if they were/had been married. Merry

Sorry, had to nip out! Thanks so much for everyones help. I really appreciate it! Cheers Helen