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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: cordley on Sunday 06 June 21 14:31 BST (UK)
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I have a relative whose Death Certificate gives the cause of death, age 51.
Disease of Liver - 1 year;
Jaundice - 1 year;
Haemorrhage from Stomach - 6 days.
Can anyone suggest what was wrong with this man, in modern terms? I have my own ideas, but I am not medical.
Thanks
Pam
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I wonder if it was cancer of the liver, that had spread?
The jaundice is very indicative of gallstones blocking the duct .
However in the last stages of cancer ,many patients get yellow skin.
Bleeding from the stomach may indicate an ulcer or secondary cancer.
Strange there is not one term for all the symptoms.
My grandmother died from Cholecystitis ,she was too afraid to have gallstones removed and I suppose her liver ceased to function properly.
Viktoria.
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It could be a few conditions - maybe alcoholic hepatitis. Often there is stomach bleeding with this.
PS - my 2x great grandfather had similar causes on his death cert.
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I hadn’t thought of that Gadget.
Certainly if so it all fits.
Viktoria.
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I have one worded exactly as yours, underneath is written ‘cirrhosis’.
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My feeling was that it was cirrhosis of the liver, he was in the Theatrical world in the mid-1850's, had a few stressful events.. abandoned by wife (wives).
Thanks for all your help.
Pam
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If the liver is damaged, there is pressure on the Portal Vein, which needs to carry blood at a higher pressure.
This causes weakened walls of the smaller blood vessels which can split and release blood, and these are known as Oesophagal varices.
The effects can be serious anaemia, and if this is recognised, can be treated by endoscopy and applying bands to the vessels involved.
I imagine this person had been suffering from liver disease which had been ongoing for some time and then the damage caused the increased pressure and the resulting haemorrhage.
A sad death.
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A sad death indeed, in1875 the gentleman died in a Hotel, registered by an 'Occupant' of the Hotel, so obviously no family or friend with him.
Thank you for the input, adds to my picture of the man.