In: National Genealogical Society Quarterly, v.76 (December 1988), pgs 289-301
Summary
Abstract: The study of disease and causes of death yields important findings for the genealogist. Death certificates (limited in number prior to the twentieth century) contain useful information for identifying ancestors; the mortality schedules of several ninetennth-century federal censuses provide the month and cause of death; and church registers, within some denominations, yield some information on deaths of members. However, having a knowledge of the meanings of the various medical terms used in these records is also of interest to genealogical researchers. Information obtained in this manner not only better informs them about their forebears but also could lead to the detection of a familial or inherited disease in specific families. To help the genealogist in the study of medically oriented records, this article treats three areas. First, a brief history of medicine and the medical profession during the nineteenth century is presented, including a discussion of the most-prevalent disease state-fever. Next, the mortality schedules are discussed-including their history, their location, and the information they contain. Finally, there is offered a glossary of medical terms from the past century which genealogists will most frequently encounter.
