Description

Media: BOOK - paperback, 64 pages
Author: H. Smith
Year: 2015
ISBN: 9781925323269
Other: 2nd ed., b&w photos, glossary, index
Publisher: Unlock the Past

Death certificates are an important document in family research, both to 'kill off' our ancestors and to determine their cause of death. This is especially so for people who are interested in establishing their medical genealogy. However at times it seems as though the cause of death is in a foreign language.

'Death Certificates and Archaic Medical Terms' examines the history and evolution of death certificates. When did they start? What is on them? What were the legal requirements? What does it mean when a death is certified? Why aren't all deaths certified?

But it also gives meanings to over 1550 archaic terms found on death certificates such as cachexia, breakbone fever, byssinosis, coeliac passion, dipsomania, inanition and Potter's Rot.

This second edition has been fully updated and expanded, and is double the size of the first, and now contains 1562 archaic medical terms.

Contents:
Introduction
1. Evolution of death certificates
- England
- Australia
- United States of America
2. Getting the most out of the death certificate or 'buyer beware'
3. Access to death indexes and/or certificates
- Australia
- England and Wales
4. Occupational causes of death
5. Classifications of causes of death
6. Further avenues of research
- Newspapers
- Probate files
- Internet Archive
- Certificate Exchange
- Online websites
7. Glossary of Some Archaic Medical Terms
Index

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4 Reviews

Death Certificates and Archaic Medical Terms
5
Posted by Dave on 3rd Apr 2023

A comprehensive introduction followed by information that allows for better interpretation of a death certificate.
Very good book
4
Posted by April Burke on 26th Aug 2021

It is going to help me a lot
A most useful book.
5
Posted by Linda Marikar on 12th Aug 2021

As family genealogist and assistant researcher for a Victorian Lunatic Asylum, I found this book to be extremely useful for removing the mystery of some of the causes of death described in 19th century and early 20th century death certificates.

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