Historical cause of death 1700s-1800s
What did putrid sore throat mean on a death certificate?
On a death record, putrid sore throat meant a foul, membranous infection closing the throat, killing children in days. In modern terms it usually pointed to diphtheria, or severe streptococcal throat infection. The throat distemper that emptied New England towns in the 1730s was this; several children per family within weeks is its signature. Expect it on records mostly 1700s-1800s.
Also written on records as: malignant sore throat, throat distemper, putrid fever of the throat.
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Related terms
Browse the full genealogy records glossary for more occupations, causes of death, and legal terms.
FAQs
What is putrid sore throat called today?+
Diphtheria, or severe streptococcal throat infection, broadly speaking. Doctors of the period diagnosed without laboratory tests, so one label often covered several conditions we would now separate. This page explains historical record language and is not medical advice.
How was putrid sore throat written on death records?+
Clerks and doctors also wrote malignant sore throat, throat distemper, and putrid fever of the throat. Spelling wandered from register to register, so check every variant before you decide a record is missing or wrong.
Where do these definitions come from?+
They are drawn from period dictionaries, government archive glossaries, and standard genealogy references, cross-checked against each other; provenance is documented with the dataset. Inside AncestorIQ, Deep Research reads the record itself and explains terms like this in context, against your ancestor's own document.
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