cause of death?

[k.whigham]

Can anyone help me to determine what killed my g-g-grandfather in 1874?  The "cause of death" box on his death certificate has a (Q) followed on the next line by ?ellelaena or ?ettelaena.  I can't make out the first letter, and it's possible the "n" is "ri".  Can anyone hazard a guess as to what the ailment was?
Thanks, Kate

[Sylviaann]

Can you post a copy for us to see?

Sylviaann

[Welsh Jen]

Are you able to scan the said word for us to have a better look?

There is a Neurasthenia which is a weakness of the nerves 
Source: http://www.paul_smith.doctors.org.uk/ArchaicMedicalTerms.htm

    

  Regards Jen

[k.whigham]

Hopefully there is an attachment showing the relevantpart of the death certificate. I've tried various sites for old medical terms, but had no luck so far.
Any ideas?

Kate

[Welsh Jen]

I have cropped & sharpened the unclear text for you

[suttontrust]

I can't make out the whole word but the ending of it could be "deama" and I think that has connotations of swelling.

[sjsbc]

Hi,

I'm fairly sure the entry reads,

1  Melaena

Melaena is the passage of black, tarry stools.  Most commonly, it is caused by acute or chronic peptic ulceration. 

Or in laymans terms they had a stomach ulcer which bled, resulting in their death.

Sue

[Jackienock]

I think this reads

1. Melaena
 
Which is

Black Jaundice.

A condition marked by black, tarry stool or vomit composed largely of blood that has been acted on by gastric juices, resulting from a hemorrhage along the digestive tract.

Regards
Robert
 

[k.whigham]

Thanks, all.  Good to have different pairs of eyes looking at things.

Kate

ps Does the (Q) have any significance?