Ernest Carl Putnam (1884 - 1895) How did this 10 year old lad pass away?

Question

It appears he passed away from diphtheria which caused paralysis of heart. The record is difficult to read and it appears it lasted 4 weeks? Where was he born?

Thank you

Answer 1

I agree with your reading of the cause of death and the four weeks. The place of birth and death are both Manchester N. H. On one of the two FamilySearch records, the birthplace is just given as City.

Comments

Thank you Jim

I used this calculator to determine birth date estimate Here

Very tragic to pass from this disease at such a young age yet it appears the family went on and survived. It must of been contagious. Although in 1895 not many medical resources 

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Yes, it certainly is quite contagious. My great-grandfather, at the age I think of nine (so it would've been 1879), together only with an older sister who was also ill, was sent to walk several miles into town to see the doctor, for what turned out to be diphtheria. They both survived.

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Thank you for the star, Andrew!

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It does seem people survived diphtheria who were sick with the disease; which is amazing in the 19th century

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Interesting though gruesome article here. It says mortality if untreated was 5 to 10%, or 20% for children under 5. An antitoxin was developed in the 1890s, not available for my great-grandfather, nor apparently for poor Ernest.

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That’s an excellent article and really shows the awfulness of diphtheria