Mary Millard cause of death

[Lisajb]

 I am thinking that the cause of Mary's death was "mortification of bowels".  Could someone take a look to see if they agree?

Thanks
Lisa

[ShaunJ]

Yes I agree

[manukarik]

I agree!
Look at the end of the first paragraph in the second column here:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/25493437?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents

which is talking about a strangulated hernia, I think.

[Viktoria]

Yes and the strangulation (very  tight twisting in a loop )would mean no blood supply to that part of the bowel  which would die .

Viktoria.

[Lisajb]

Poor lady. It sounds horrible.

[Ray T]

My GGGGrandfather died of “Mortification of leg”. I’ve always assumed that it’s more to do with lack of a blood supply.

Having suffered from a blood supply issue to my own bowels, I can tell you that it isn’t very pleasant!

[Viktoria]

Yes Ray but in the case of “ Strangulation of the bowel “ we would call it torsion today ,but just as a ligature or tourniquet cuts off blood to a serious wound so will a tight twist to the bowel.
Our bowels move as part of the digestive process ,peristalsis , squeezing the contents along

If there is a hernia then part of the bowel can protrude out of the body but behind the abdominal skin however the gap in the muscle that has allowed that protrusion can tighten up thus trapping the bowel outside the abdominal cavity ,that is a strangulated hernia.
Little or no blood supply causes gangrene ,so a big operation to remove the
necrotic tissue of the now dead bowel section .
It all makes for cheerful reading!
How lucky we are nowadays with antibiotics and so forth.
Whilst still a serious condition the outlook for such patients is very very good indeed.
Sadly not so in the time of the woman ,subject of the post.
Viktoria.

[Ray T]

Nothing to do with a hernia in my case - I’ll spare you the gory details - but nothing two weeks in intensive care couldn’t cure!

[Viktoria]

Glad to hear you are cured .
On a flippant note you swallowed grape seeds did you or the odd plum stone.?
Oh those horror stories from childhood -orange trees growing inside you or causing appendicitis !
Apparently puppies swallowing elastic bands can cause serious obstructions.
Viktoria