Death Certificate information

[gbuttery]

Can someone please clear up something that has puzzled me for a while?
After cause of death, on a death certificate, there is usually a time in months or years. Is this the length of time that person has been ill, or does it have some other meaning?
I thought it was the former, but some of mine do not seem logical.
Also, having just received the death certificate of my great grandmother, I was surprized to see cancer of the womb as the cause of death, in 1900. Not sure why, but I wasn't expecting cancer to be a named cause of death over 100 years ago. Just when was the term first used, does anyone know.

Thank You,
Gill

[CaroleW]

Hi

After cause of death, on a death certificate, there is usually a time in months or years. Is this the length of time that person has been ill, or does it have some other meaning?

I think it is only shown when the person has been ill for some time with that particular incapacity.  I have quite a number of death certs and the time is only shown on 2 of them - both were long term illnesses

Re: Cancer - have a look at this link

http://cancer.about.com/od/historyofcancer/a/cancerhistory.htm

[Jebber]

Yes, your first  thought is correct, it is the length of time the person has been suffering from the illness.

I have an assortment of certificates showing lengths of time from a matter of hours through to a couple of years, a few show long term illnesses with the addition of another illness lasting only a couple of days.

Cancer was given as a cause of death much earlier than a hundred years ago, off hand I can quote one in 1859.

Jebber

[243rose]

Gill.

doctors have know about cancer since at leat 1720's

cheers
iain

[gbuttery]

Thank you to all.
I knew cancer had been around for a long time, I just thought it was given  other names a long time ago.

You learn something every day!

Thank you again
Regards
Gill

[GeoffE]

Regarding times of suffering, one of my ancestors had

Cause:
Phlebitis 2 months,
Mortification 22 days,
Septicaemia 4 hours


Another (in 1854)
Cancer of the lip and neck.