Help With Cause of Death, Please (completed)

[delta59]

Just received a death cert from 1842 and cause of death is 'syncope', which I believe is fainting.  Does anyone know why a doctor in 1842 would put this ie would it mean something else, then?

Many thanks.

[MKG]

Hi Delta

One of the causes of syncope (and yes, it is fainting) is lack of oxygen. Possibly - only possibly - the doctor was trying to find a nicer way of saying "death by suffocation".

Mike

[abeer]

Hi,
 This is a link to a website which gives definitions to medical terms no longer used or if the use has now changed

http://www.antiquusmorbus.com/English/EnglishS.htm

Syncope is on this list and noted as being on a death certificate in 1896 ,

Alison

[delta59]

Many thanks that was very helpful.