Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- What Is the Most Unusual Cause of Death You Have Discovered?

  Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. 

1)  What is the most unusual cause of death you have discovered for your ancestors?

2) Tell us about the most unusual cause of death you found in your own blog post, in a comment on this post, or in a Facebook Status  post.  Please leave a link on this post if you write your own post.

[Thank you to Linda Stufflebean for suggesting this topic!]

Here's mine:

 My 2nd great-grandfather Henry White (1824-1885) died of locomotor ataxia in Killingly, Connecticut.  

What is locomotor ataxia?  I asked Google (which used AI to provide information):

Locomotor ataxia is a neurological disorder characterized by impaired coordination and balance, leading to difficulties with walking and other movements. 

Causes: 

• Tertiary syphilis: A late stage of the sexually transmitted infection syphilis. 
• Multiple sclerosis: An autoimmune disease that damages the myelin sheath covering nerves in the brain and spinal cord. 
• Friedreich's ataxia: A hereditary disorder caused by a mutation in the FXN gene. 
• Other causes: Stroke, brain tumors, intoxication with certain substances (e.g., lead, mercury), vitamin deficiencies. 

Symptoms: 

• Unsteady gait with swaying or staggering
• Difficulty with balance and coordination
• Slurred speech
• Weakness in the legs
• Loss of proprioception (sense of body position)
• Tremors or jerking movements 

Diagnosis: 

• Physical examination, 
• Neurological tests, 
• Blood tests (to rule out syphilis and other infections), 
• MRI or CT scan of the brain or spinal cord. 

Treatment:

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Options may include: 

• Antibiotics for syphilis
• Medications to modify the immune system (e.g., disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for multiple sclerosis)
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation to improve coordination and balance
• Assistive devices (e.g., canes, walkers) 

Prognosis: 

The prognosis varies depending on the cause and severity of the condition. Some individuals may experience a gradual decline in symptoms, while others may have a more severe and progressive course. 

How Common Is It?  

• very uncommon in modern times due to effective syphilis treatments

Note: It is important to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment if you experience symptoms of locomotor ataxia.

That sounds like really scary problem.  I don't know what Henry White had.  He was married at the time he died in 1885, so I hope it wasn't syphilis.  It was perhaps something noticeable to the doctor - perhaps gait, balance, slurred speech, tremors and weakness, or a stroke.

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