Genealogy Chat

Try this site http://www.paul_smith.doctors.org.uk/ArchaicMedicalTerms.htm

We should form a team of medical detectives (lol)

Simon Syncope, though a vague term meaning to faint or lose consciousness, was often used on old death certs. I think your relie dropped down dead, probably as the result of a heart attack. Helen

Thanks for that Brian. I don't know why, but I always forget to look at Google. It looks as though 'Morbus Cordis', which as you say is heart disease, brough about 'Syncope' which as I've now found can refer to a sudden dramatic loss in blood pressure. Simon

Could the word be syncope?...From Google... Syncope is defined as a transient loss of consciousness with an inability to maintain postural tone that resolves spontaneously without medical or surgical intervention. It doesn't explain why it could cause death, though.

Simon I had a look on Google and found 'morbus cordis'. Means no more than heart disease. Probably used by doctors when they didn't know the exact cause of death but were sure it was natural causes. Sounds like a good get-out clause if ever there was one. Hope this is of some help to you! Brian.

Have received my gr-gr-grandfather's death certificate (died in 1913) and can't quite work out the two listed causes of death, a) because of the writing and b) being medical terms, it's hard to know whether you're right or wrong ! The first listed cause, which has 'Initial' following it in brackets, looks like Snorbus Cordis. I think the 'Cordis' is definitely correct, but the first word ? I'm pretty sure it ends in '. . orbus' but could be wrong. Any ideas ? The second cause looks like Lyncope. I think it's definitely a y and an n. The first letter could be an S or an L. Does anyone know what these two conditions could be, and perhaps even tell me what they are ? Grateful for any ideas. Simon

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