Genealogy Chat

I've just received the death cert for my gt grandad who died in 1922.

I was led to believe he died from tetanus but on death cert it states
CELLULITIS DUE TO A WOUND ON THUMB ACCIDENTALLY CAUSED WHEN DECEASED WAS HANDLING A HAULAGE ROPE

He was a colliery Rider (Surface) aged 48

The part that boggles me most is it states on the description of informant

" certificate recieved from R J Rhys Coroner for Glamorgan.
Inquest held 25 Oct 1922 "

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What is an inquest and would I find any papers relating to this and where?? Ive typed it in Google but dont quite understand

Any help would be appreciated

An inquest is basically an investigation into how someone died, they are usually held when it is unknown how someone died or the circumstances are suspicious.

Not many inquest papers exist although inquests where usually reported in the local paper. It may be more beneficial to try and find the newspaper report.

Sam x

Coroners Offices or Local Records Offices may well have the Coroners paperwork from that inquest. Coroners paperwork is usually not made available for 70 years unless the Coroner gives permission. As this is more than 70 years old, papers may well be lodged at your local records Office.
The Coroner will have been involved, because as the accident occured at work, Coroners usually investigate industrial accidents.

I have found a inquest report in a local newspaper for one of my ancestors so it is definately worth looking.

Thanks everyone. I'll go and look at the old newspapers and see if anythings mentioned

Its my birthday today and 4 certificates arrived - I ripped open the certificates faster than my cards :o)

Ahh, the sign of a true geneaolgy addict LOL

Happy Birthday - have a great day!

Mary

Greggs,

A death certificate is always issued by the Coroner when there has been an inquest,,,,,,and he will be named as the informant,,,
The inquest would have been held probally because he suddenly died,,without being seen prior to death by a doctor,,
the inquest report will maybe be reported in the local newspaper a week or so after the inquest,

greggs, perhaps your family didnt know what cellulitis meant and preferred to call it by a name they understood, tetanus.
Huia.

I have just looked up cellulitis in the dictionary: Inflamation of tissue between adjacent organs, causing pain and fever. So at the time the family probably was convinced it was tetanus, and wasnt convinced that the tetanus bacilli was not present in the wound.
I have to admit that I thought cellulitis was just a matter of fat being collected in cells where we dont want fat.
Huia.

The suffix itis means infection. Cellulitis is an infection in the cellulite layer under the skin. We've all got cellulite but only notice it when it turns to orange peel. (hopefully not the same colour though!)

Janet,

To be pedantic the suffix -itis does not mean inflammation but is merely the feminine ending of the adjective to agree with the feminine gender of the Greek word "nosos" that means disease. Admittedly in many cases these conditions will have symptoms of inflammation.

Peter