Martha's cause(s) of death 1917

[CarolA3]

My great-grandmother died in 1917 and the causes of death were:

(1) Interstitial nephritis
(2) Exfoliative dermatitis

I think I understand more or less what these conditions were, but is there a causal link or was Martha just very unlucky to have two unrelated conditions?

Many thanks in advance,
Carol

[Gadget]

Hi Carol

There is a connection between kidney disease and skin problems but difficult to say in this case.


Gadget

[Gadget]

A paper here:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/139882

Also:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02073898

[AntonyMMM]

If they are numbered as 1 & 2 on the certificate then there was no causal link.

Conditions listed under 1 on a death entry are the actual cause of death and any conditions listed as 2 (or II) are other medical conditions present which may be contributory but not directly related to the cause of death.

If the dermatitis had led to the nephritis they should be numbered as:

(1a) Interstitial nephritis
(1b) Exfoliative dermatitis

[Gadget]

If they are numbered as 1 & 2 on the certificate then there was no causal link.

Conditions listed under 1 on a death entry are the actual cause of death and any conditions listed as 2 (or II) are other medical conditions present which may be contributory but not directly related to the cause of death.

If the dermatitis had led to the nephritis they should be numbered as:

(1a) Interstitial nephritis
(1b) Exfoliative dermatitis

That would be dependent on the knowledge of the doctor who completed the death note in 1917, though.
My experience tells me not to trust medics 

[AntonyMMM]

That would be dependent on the knowledge of the doctor who completed the death note in 1917, though.
My experience tells me not to trust medics 

True - but the numbering rules are designed to show the causal links and reflect what the doctor stated at the time - whether they were right or not is another matter.

As a registrar it is quite common to have to phone the doctor to discuss issues with what they have given as the causes, or how they have numbered them. Sometimes the doctor will happily admit that the cause they have written reflects their "best guess".

[Gadget]

This was 1917, Anthony.

Medics do get it wrong - believe me I've worked with them 

PS -'he' might well not have linked kidney and skin problems in those days.

[CarolA3]

My thanks to both of you

I copied the causes (1) and (2) exactly as shown on the certificate, so apparently the doctor didn't see a causal connection.  He didn't state the duration of either condition - but then he was probably only called in at the end, and anyway that detail wasn't required.  (Yes 'he' was a he!)

[CarolA3]

As a registrar it is quite common to have to phone the doctor to discuss issues with what they have given as the causes, or how they have numbered them. Sometimes the doctor will happily admit that the cause they have written reflects their "best guess".

My Dad's death cert (1989 Aylesbury) shows five causes of death, grouped as:
Ia one cause; Ib one cause; II three causes.

I wonder whether there was a phone call about that layout.  Poor old bloke was worn out at 68 and quite possibly over-medicated.

Carol