was it a stroke?

[Rosie Knees]

I have just received a death certificate for my GG GM Mary Ann Singleton Kelly nee Foster.

Cause 1. Syncope 1 day
Cause 2. Senility (at 67 poor thing)

I have looked for a definition for syncope and, in medical terms, it seems to mean fainting. Surely fainting wouldn't be a primary cause of death.

Any thoughts?

[JessBow]

Or unconsiousness- although I wonder what caused her to be unconsious?

when someone loses consciousness and collapses because the oxygen getting to their brain temporarily stops. This can be because of a drop in blood pressure, a change in the heart beat (and not enough blood is pumped through the heart), or because of a reduced amount of oxygen in the blood. ...

Could be what we now call as stroke I suppose

[Rosie Knees]

thanks Jess. It seems a bit vague for 1920.

[Nell]

It does seem a bit vague for then, Rosie Knees. I have syncope on a few death certs. I have assumed it meant the person lost consciousness (which is what death is!) but its not very helpful. Perhaps the doc didn't really know.