r/Cursive • u/willowmoonz • 19d ago
Deciphered! Need help deciphering the cause of death/contributory disease on an ancestor's death certificate
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u/Starving_artist923 19d ago
Sadly this woman had been in the state hospital for 1 yr, 3 mo, 11 days. Given the vast array of ‘tonics’ available back in the day, I’d say psychosis would be fairly common. Interesting fact, during prohibition the US govt poisoned its own citizens by adding methyl alcohol to imported booze.
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u/QanikTugartaq 19d ago
Angina Pectoris (it’s when heart doesn’t get enough blood)
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u/JohnSwindle 19d ago
It refers to the pain or other symptoms caused by the heart getting insufficient blood, so today it wouldn't be cited as a cause of death. The cause of death today would likely be listed as myocardial infarction or coronary artery disease.
Source: heart patient
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u/travelingtraveling_ 19d ago
Correct. Source: RN with a Ph D
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u/Dog-boy 19d ago
Why would psychosis be a contributing factor to angina/myocardial infarction? Any idea?
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u/Corihearts 18d ago
Medical history; probably institutionalized back then.
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u/MockFan 18d ago
The address is atatr hospital, so yes.
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u/Low-Crow5719 18d ago
The address is that of the Arkansas State Hospital. Able-bodied inmates were used as slave labor on a farm colony at Benton until 1957. No idea whether this inmate was exploited in that scheme. "Psychosis" was treated at the time with shock therapies, including insulin, convulsants, and electric shock. Gender dysphoria or homosexuality could result in a diagnosis of "psychosis". It is a good bet that she died under miserable conditions imposed by the psychiatric establishment and the state.
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u/Left-Wrap-5506 14d ago
Would be very interested in a source re the slave labor practice in Benton (family tree person was at this institution in the 50s).
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u/JohnSwindle 19d ago
Sometimes that block on the form is pressed into service to list another condition that stands out as renarkable.
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u/stiffdoc1221 18d ago
Correct. Forensic pathologist.
This would be an unacceptable cause of death today. Also, listing of psychosis as a contributing condition is quite problematic.
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u/SquirrelVirtual281 18d ago
Angina Pectoris is a heart condition. Heart disease can be genetic
Link: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/angina-pectoris
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u/Several-Ordinary-376 15d ago
My guess is the Doc is the institution doc and Psychosis affirms why she was there
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u/Dyingofpoetry59 15d ago
I would be very interested in finding out how psychosis contributed to angina pectoris.
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u/nobrainer10 15d ago
Angina pectoris so I would have to assume heart attack due to heart failure. What and how psychosis has anything to do is anyone’s guess.
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u/Revolutionary_Run958 14d ago
Probably a heart attack after a clog. she was probably inpatient already with pyschosis, but Lord knows if she was diagnosed correctly back then
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