Genealogy Chat

I have received the death certificates today of a couple who died within weeks of each other. He died on the 6th of June of 'Synofic Delirium Tremens' and she died on the 25th of July of 'Natural causes' He was 45 and she was 40. Does anyone know what his cause of death was in plain English, please. Thanks Helen

Hi Helen, how about this !! Delirium, also known as toxic confusional state or complicated alcohol abstinence , is a mental disturbance resulting from brain disorder. It features confusion of thought, disorientation, restlessness and other symptoms. Delirium tremens, sometimes referred to as 'the DTs', has special features of its own. It affects people on alcohol withdrawal after a long period of heavy drinking. Delirium tremens can be fatal and requires urgent medical help in hospital Doesn't sound very nice !! Esta x I think the first words might possible be 'Synopic' - which would make more sense !

Hi Helen A great site for meanings of causes of death is: http://www.paul_smith.doctors.org.uk/ArchaicMedicalTerms.htm I have had a quick look and there is no definition of the word Synofic, the two nearest are Syncope which means fainting, losing consciousness or just dropping down dead or Synochus which means continued fever. It does however have the meaning of Delerium Tremens which is: Delirium Tremens - Confusion, restlessness, terror and hallucinations due to alcoholism especially during withdrawal Hope this helps Regards Sharon

delirium tremens [fom a 1908 medical dictionary]hallucinations and shaking,rapid pulse,insomnia,after 4 days symptoms subside,if extreme death can take place from heart failure,[sometimes due to alcoholism]

Thank you Esta, Sharon & Chris. I'd thought about the DTs, and I've now looked on the paul_smith site. Thanks for the address. Morris (the dead man) was a licensed victualler. Guess he drank his profits! Originally he was a bootmaker, and this is the occupation his daughter gave when she married nearly 20 years later - she was about 8 when her parents died. With both of them dying close together, I thought they might have died of something infectious. I wasn't expecting drink related. Wonder what did kill off his wife, 6 weeks later? Helen

Helen, I have a similar story, my ggg grandparents died within a year of each other, he died from delirium tremors, was a tobacconist but raised in a pub (his dad ran one), not sure yet how his wife died, both were in their twenties and left 2 little ones.