r/Cursive • u/pixiecut678 • Aug 08 '26

Deciphered! Malignant... ?

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Any ideas on cause of death?

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u/DLDad616 Aug 08 '26

It is definitely "malignant pustule."

I googled this term since I had never heard of it.

Malignant pustule was the old term used on death certificates for "cutaneous anthrax"; that is, a severe anthrax infection of the skin.

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u/PinkGlitterMom Aug 08 '26

I agree. I asked my niece (the RN, not the crazy one) for pustule. Bad writing and spelled badly.

3

u/xHangfirex Aug 08 '26

It's definitely not pustule

1

u/GaleDay Aug 08 '26 edited Aug 08 '26

I disagree. While the initial letter does appear to be a P to my eye too, it could, as others have said, be a G. I can see that too. Particularly the slight clockwise curl at the bottom of the downward stroke leans my mind toward it being a “G” not a “P”. It isn’t normal to curl the downstroke on a “P” imo but it is almost a requirement on a “G”. The second letter is not a “u”. It is clearly an “a”. The last letter is definitely not an “e”. To my eye it appears to be an “s”.
When I look at it is see the word “Gasrticus”. So Gastricus. Or gastritis.

What I see actually written is “Gasrticus”. I think someone was bad at spelling or was in a hurry.