Genealogy Chat

Thanks Rodney, It is looking very very probable. He was only 39 when he died, so although I know it's possible , it would be more unusual to have a stroke so young. Also it ties in with he and his wife only having one child - they may have given birth to more, but certainly none survived (I have yet to research any still births or deaths in infancy yet). It must have been a horrible way to die, and unfortunately it was so common. Regards Maxine

Paul and Gwyneth are definately right-I have nursed this condition when I worked in a psychiatric hospital it was sometimes abreviated to G.P.I (General Paralysis of the Insane)

Hi Guys Thanks for all your idea, and don't worry I'm not offended! I certainly can't control what my ancestors got up to!!! (However I may not pass that version onto my Mum!) Obviously I will never know, and I must admit that a stroke was what came to my mind first. I think ( but I am not expert so I stand to be corrected) that most of the neurological diseases like parkinsons and motor neurone disease have some hereditary basis, and as we have had no recurrance in that line (that I know of of course) it would seem unlikel, so I looks like he either had a stroke or was a naughty boy(or his wife was!) Regards Maxine

In my little book it says Paralysis - will generally mean a stroke Paralysis Agitans - Parkinson's disease Paralysis of Mouth - could be Tetanus Paralysis of the Insane - General Paralysis of the Insane i.e. Syphilis Paralytic - A stroke victim i.e. one who is paralysed Paresis - Paralysis Of course, these terms may not always have been used correctly, but hope it helps anyway. Maz. XX

Hi, I endorse Paul's comments. Strangely enough we covered this topic in our Family History workshop recently. In the days before antibiotics this was a not uncommon cause of death. Gwynne

You might not like this but the advanced condition of syphilis was know as "the general paralysis of the insane" in those days. Peolpe with the illness were often admitted to asylams or as we know them now as psychiatric hospitals. sorry if this info offends Paul

http://www(.)paul_smith(.)doctors(.)org(.)uk/ArchaicMedicalTerms(.)htm Remove the brackets found this site on Cyndislist under medical terminiology Penny

From Websters 1910 Paralysis (Para etc/ Para of Brain/ Paralatic Stroke/ Paraletic Stroke/ Paralisis/ Paralitic Stroke/ Parallysis/ Paralyis/ Paralysis of Heart/ Paralysis of Thoat./ Paraylsis/ Paresis/ Parletic stroke/ Parlyetic/ parylasis) - Abolition of function, whether complete or partial; especially, the loss of the power of voluntary motion...or of sensation...in any part of the body. A chronic, progressive, nervous disease, occuring in advanced life and marked by muscular tremor and weakness and a peculiar gait termed festination; Parkinson's Disease.

Only a guess, but perhaps he had a stroke? Janet

Hi There As you brilliant people have always been able to solve even my most obscure queries, I thought I's call on you again! I have just discovered that My Great great Grandfather Vincent Holland (yes him again!) was alive and kicking with his wife and son in 1871, but by 1877 he had dies of "paralysis" in the county asylum. I wondered if anyone could shed any light(speculation happily accepted!) on what may have been wrong with him that could have resulted in his sudden demise. (He was an iron puddler if that helps at all) Many Thanks Maxine