Genealogy Chat

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Hi - I have a death cert of a 6 day old child from my tree and under the Cause of Death section it says 'Debility - no Medical and uncertified.' I presume Debility means a wasting away or some sort - but just guessing. Anyone have any clues? Also, I've never seen 'no Medical and Uncertified' on a cert before - they have always said 'certified' - again, anyone any idea why it should say this? Thanks!v

Well, my GGFx3 (1861) just said 'Been ill this last 11 months - Old age - not certified' so I guess it was quite common. Im assuming they didnt call out a doctor (which cost a fair bit of money then) and just the local vicar or someone came in to arrange the funeral? I just looked at it again as Merry said about prior to 1860 but defo late November 1861 - poor old devil 85 years old and still down as ag lab.

Was it before 1860? Deaths didn't have to be certified until then. I'm sure you are right about fading away.....maybe the birth was premature?? Merry

Thanks Heather/Merry Yes, the death was in 1845. Do you think that this means the GP wasn't informed the child was sick? The child's father had already died 7 months previously, so his mother was left a widow and pauper with quite a lot of children still to care for...I can't help but wonder if she neglected the child due to her circumstances.

I should think the poor girl had neglected herself, no husband, very little food Id have thought, not the healthiest pregnancy. Its amazing how they survived all the heart ache, isnt it.

debility n. weakness. debilitant, n. & a. (substance) reducing energy or excitement. debilitate, v.t. weaken. debilitation, n. debilitative, a. from the dictionary of difficult words

Yes, must have been awful losing a husband whilst pregnant. They were a family of ag labs in Suffolk, and it was only through the elder boys working that kept them out of the workhouse, I guess. I wouldnt be surprised if she was suffering some sort of depression - I know I would have!! Discovering this case was so sad - tragic situation isn't it?

She would have had to pay for a doctor to see the child....it might be that mum and the midwife (if there was one) knew that the child wouldn't survive, so there would be ''no point'' (practically, I mean) in having the doctor come and look at the baby. A completely different world than today......... Merry

I never realised that they had to pay for a doctor back then, Merry. Gosh - given the circumstances, that would make sense then. Yes, maybe they could tell from birth that he wouldn't survive long. Something else just dawned on me...he was baptised the same day he was born...perhaps they thought he wouldn't survive more than a couple of days, eh?

Yes, even more likely, and as the vicar had been in, I guess they knew there was no point getting the doctor. Round here you can still see the old doctors house. (Its offices now). There are steps up to the door and a big bell still hangs there which I guess they rang to get attention. There is a stable next to the house which I suppose had his horse or little trap. So, first youd have to get someone to run or cart to the doctor and then get him out and then pay out money or pay him in kind - if hed accept a chicken or whatever and then you may not even have any goods to give. Tough life wasnt it. I really dont know how they coped.

Bear in mind too that 'doctors' were few and far between, especially in rural areas. In all the census for villages I have read over the years, I have never actually come across a doctor as a resident, before 1901. A woman would usually act as midwife and if there was a problem, then unfortunately, the circumstances were often tragic. Jay

Paying for doctors only stopped after WW2 with the introduction of the NHS. That's why pharmacists were so important - still are, of course. Christine