Causes of Death in 1600's

[gaelwyn]

Sounds morbid, I know

Was looking at the history of churches that ancestors had used. Found a history of London that included what were called London Bills of Mortality. It showed the causes of death and the number of people.

Some medical terms were easy to decipher, but others I had to research :biggrin: Some gave me a laugh :2fun::2fun:

Headmouldshot - inflammation or water on the brain
Impostthume - cyst or abscess
Grocer's itch - dermatitis from a fruit mite
Eel thing - evil thing - St Elmo's Fire
Rising of the Lights - lung problems

One had me stumped "frogg"

Any ideas??

 

[joaning]

Frogg = Croup....

http://www.homeoint.org/cazalet/oldnames.htm

 

[duckweed]

I can't think anyone died of dermatitis. The one I think is better than saying natural causes is visitation by God which was still used in more recent times.

Have you got any more of these? I have been collecting horrible cures from the same period. Even toothpaste was pretty wierd as it involved roasting a mouse's skull and then grinding the bones.

 

[gaelwyn]

Frogg = Croup....

http://www.homeoint.org/cazalet/oldnames.htm

Thanks for that site, Joaning :biggrin::biggrin:

It had almost all the maladies described in the Bills

 

[gaelwyn]

I can't think anyone died of dermatitis. The one I think is better than saying natural causes is visitation by God which was still used in more recent times.

Have you got any more of these? I have been collecting horrible cures from the same period. Even toothpaste was pretty wierd as it involved roasting a mouse's skull and then grinding the bones.

Yes, to die of dermatitis :''( must have got grossly infected with the mites under the skin, and going by remedies of the day, well
My favourite TV show is 'Horrible Histories', hahahaha

I found them, looking at life in London.
The website was : www.st-hughes.co.uk ...London 1550...ore if you look for London Bills of Mortality

 

[duckweed]

I just copied and pasted onto google and found it.

being planet struck is some cause of death!

Here are some cures for asthma.
Swallow young frogs or live spiders, cover them in butter to help them slide down easier.
Other crazy cures included powdered human skull,
bone-marrow mixed with sweat,
a stone that has killed a she-bear
fresh cream mixed with the blood of a black cat's tail.
Definitely a case of Kill or Cure.

 

[gaelwyn]

One of my favourites :

"King’s evil, scrofula, or struma, a tuberculous swelling of the lymph glands, once popularly supposed to be curable by the touch of royalty. The custom of touching was first adopted in England by Edward the Confessor and in France by Philip I. In England the practice was attended with great ceremony; and from the time of Henry VII sufferers were presented with especially touched coins to be worn as amulets or charms. The custom reached its zenith during the Restoration: Charles II is said to have touched more than 90,000 victims between 1660 and 1682. The last royal healer in England was Queen Anne, who touched 200 victims in 1712. In France the ceremony persisted for another century and was even briefly revived by Charles X between 1824 and 1830."

Better than having a freshly killed pigeon placed on plague bubae

 

[duckweed]

I bet our queen is glad they finished that custom. You might still get a hospital visit from a royal personage these days I suppose.

When I went into maternity to see if they could turn my baby as she was the wrong way round Jeremy Beadle was visiting the wards. They said if I stayed I could meet him. I got out fast. The idea of having such a practical joker appear grinning at what was a most trying time might have brought labour on early.

 

[ptjw7]

Years ago I worked with a chap whos father made home remedies. He had a
pharmacopeia which I believe came from before the first world war! when we looked at some of the remedies we were not sure if they cured anthing buit you were not that minmed as they mostley contained cocaine!
Even the babies teething gell contained the stuff!

Peter

 

[somerstown]

Sounds morbid, I know

Was looking at the history of churches that ancestors had used. Found a history of London that included what were called London Bills of Mortality. It showed the causes of death and the number of people.

Some medical terms were easy to decipher, but others I had to research :biggrin: Some gave me a laugh :2fun::2fun:

Headmouldshot - inflammation or water on the brain
Impostthume - cyst or abscess
Grocer's itch - dermatitis from a fruit mite
Eel thing - evil thing - St Elmo's Fire
Rising of the Lights - lung problems

One had me stumped "frogg"

Any ideas??

"Eel thing" worried me. I am fond of jellied eels! (And can't find any decent ones in west Kent! :'()

 

[duckweed]

Isn't St Elmo's fire caused by mouldy Rye? Causes hallucinations similar to being on LSD.

 

[gaelwyn]

I bet our queen is glad they finished that custom. You might still get a hospital visit from a royal personage these days I suppose.

When I went into maternity to see if they could turn my baby as she was the wrong way round Jeremy Beadle was visiting the wards. They said if I stayed I could meet him. I got out fast. The idea of having such a practical joker appear grinning at what was a most trying time might have brought labour on early.

Hahaha, that sounds scary

Now who is Jeremy Beadle?

 

[gaelwyn]

Years ago I worked with a chap whos father made home remedies. He had a
pharmacopeia which I believe came from before the first world war! when we looked at some of the remedies we were not sure if they cured anthing buit you were not that minmed as they mostley contained cocaine!
Even the babies teething gell contained the stuff!

Peter

Yes, lots of old remedies contained cocaine.

The man who first made Coca-Cola...the original home remedy that the travelling salesmen used to sell, had contained cocaine.....hence the 'COCA'
That was before they added the carbonated ingredients
So I've heard from my Dad...he was a bit of a joker, so it may be false :2fun::2fun:

 

[duckweed]

Jeremy Beadle had a TV programme where he set up very elaborate practical jokes such as digging up a person's garden and telling them the army had sequested it.

I've heard the story that original Coca Cola had cocaine in it but I am unsure whether that is an myth or not but stranger things have been true.

 

[marjon]

Frogg = Croup....

http://www.homeoint.org/cazalet/oldnames.htm

clever you !! My grandfather died fromn jujenal ulcer. I didn't know what this was before Google !!

 

[gaelwyn]

Jeremy Beadle had a TV programme where he set up very elaborate practical jokes such as digging up a person's garden and telling them the army had sequested it.

I've heard the story that original Coca Cola had cocaine in it but I am unsure whether that is an myth or not but stranger things have been true.

Thanks for the explanation
Sounds like a funny show....loved watching candid camera type shows.Now get my laugh fix from Funniest Home Videos
You forgot a moment that I come from down under, didn't you :2fun::2fun:
Boy, we sure have diverted from the theme :2fun::2fun:

 

[leefer]

Frogg = Croup....

http://www.homeoint.org/cazalet/oldnames.htm

And where the saying Frog in your throat comes from.

 

[duckweed]

Swallowing a frog was one of the cures for a sore throat. I notice none of the causes of death say it was a result of a silly so called cure. Many cures had mercury in them so many people must have died of mercurial posioning.

 

[gaelwyn]

Swallowing a frog was one of the cures for a sore throat. I notice none of the causes of death say it was a result of a silly so called cure. Many cures had mercury in them so many people must have died of mercurial posioning.

Yes saw that remedy on Horrible Histories!!

Wasn't mercury also in make-up?
The popular eyeliner or kohl contained lead, manganese, antimony or copper. White lead face cream led to the saying "dead white"
They also used red lead on cheeks for that 'rosy glow'
Another popular product used lead sulphate to remove freckles :2fun::2fun:
A product which was available into the 20th century, called 'Milk of Roses' contained mercury, lead, carbolic acid plus other delightful ingredients. I remember grandmother spoke about it. Irish heritage resulted in red hair and freckles :2fun::2fun:
To think that they used 'arsenic complexion wafers', asthmatic "health" cigarettes and radium bath salts

 

[joaning]

And where the saying Frog in your throat comes from.

:2fun: or frog in ya froat....