Cause of death

[suesqueezel]

Hi,
On my GG Grandfathers death certificate it gives the cause of death as 'softening of the brain', certified by a surgeon. Any ideas?
Cheers
Sue

[keldon]

Sue,
Looks as if it is a stroke or hemorrhage.

Stroke
[link=http://www.bignell.uk.com/glossary_of_old_names.htm]http://www.bignell.uk.com/glossary_of_old_names.htm[/link]

Stroke or hemorrhage in the brain resulting in softening of the tissue in that area
[link=http://www.libby-genealogy.com/old_time_diseases.htm]http://www.libby-genealogy.com/old_time_diseases.htm[/link]

You may be interested in this book from 1851 on Google Books.
'On the nature and treatment of softening of the brain'
[link=http://books.google.com/books?id=GDDRFmtto6MC&printsec=titlepage]http://books.google.com/books?id=GDDRFmtto6MC&printsec=titlepage[/link]

[suesqueezel]

Cheers Keldon, looks likely. Also thanks for the links
Sue

[SimonDaw]

One of my ancestors died of "softening of the brain". I generally use this site for all my old medical terms:

[link=http://www.paul_smith.doctors.org.uk/ArchaicMedicalTerms.htm]http://www.paul_smith.doctors.org.uk/ArchaicMedicalTerms.htm[/link]

Simon