Death certificates (causes of death)

[REEDY]

i have just received a death certificate for a James Bryant, he died in 1850. In the column cause of death it says,
SUDDEN DEATH BY VISITATION OF GOD.
Could anyone explain this to me or has anyone come across it before.
It sounds quite apt for a sudden death.
Reedy

[PrueM]

I have several ancestors who died "by visitation of god".  I think it was just a way of saying that the person died as a result of fate!  I have a newspaper report of a coronial inquest into one of my early Australian ancestors, who died in 1836.  He had stomach pains one night and died a few hours later, all of a sudden.  The coroner found that he died by visitation.  Translation:  Coroner had no idea!   
Prue

[casalguidi]

Hi Reedy

Yes, it was often used when somebody died suddenly for no apparent reason and hadn't earlier shown any obvious signs of being ill .............. these days there would be a post mortem to establish the cause of death ie. heart attack, brain haemorrhage etc. etc..

Best wishes

Casalguidi