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Death by Decline

Death by Decline

Posted: 22 Jul 2013 12:19PM GMT
Classification: Query
Can anyone shed any light on what is meant by Decline? It is the cause of death for a 42 year old in 1842.
Thank you.

Re: Death by Decline

Posted: 23 Jul 2013 5:43AM GMT
Classification: Query
Most likely it means tuberculosis/consumption. (Another frequently-used euphemism for TB is "phthisis".)

Re: Death by Decline

Posted: 25 Jul 2013 4:39PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hmmm do you think it was decline after TB or similar rather than the disease itself that caused the death? If it was TB would the cert not state it as that? I thought it would have been something to do with the brain or age...
Really young which is why I'm inclined to go with the TB idea, but I had hoped the cert would have been a bit more specific.
Thank you for reply. x

Re: Death by Decline

Posted: 25 Jul 2013 8:35PM GMT
Classification: Query
I think that the description 'Decline' would tend to cover an otherwise un-identified illness that takes time to cause death. TB could be amongst these things, though I would normally expect a competent doctor to diagnose that, and name it, as a common and usually obvious illness.

Something like certain types of cancer, or other difficult to diagnose or, as then un-named, wasting illness would be my bet.

Re: Death by Decline

Posted: 3 Aug 2013 11:58PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you

Re: Death by Decline

Posted: 4 Aug 2013 1:54AM GMT
Classification: Query
TB was summer comsumtion and not sure of spelling.

Re: Death by Decline

Posted: 6 Aug 2013 12:06PM GMT
Classification: Query
It is important to remember that at that time diagnosis was very primitive. Decline could simply be wasting away from almost anything. TB was known although the cause was not identified until 1882 by Robert Koch, but someone with symptoms of lung disease could actually have been suffering from something else. There is absolutely no way that diseases could be more specifically described for the simple reason that many, if not most, had not been identified or even named. It probably was TB but even if the certificate said that there is no proof it was because no one knew how to prove it. A similar expression is "Inanition" = "failure to thrive" applied mostly to babies - why were they "failing to thrive". Your guess is as good as anyone else's. Accurate diagnosis of many things known today was not possible often well into the 20th century. It had nothing to do with competence - just with the state of knowledge.

Re: Death by Decline

Posted: 5 Jan 2014 9:43PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 5 Jan 2014 10:54PM GMT
I'm no expert, but the answer given above, of tuberculosis, seems very plausible. Cachexia and sarcopenia are two diagnosis for decline and wasting away. According to the article on the link below, these usually are co-morbid with another disease including tuberculosis but also congestive heart failure, cancer, and other conditions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cachexia
per page

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