Inquest 1923

JDERIC2017 wrote: »

Possibly... but how could family not see this... but maybe she was giving them her food and pretending she was eating?

Context is everything.

She was about 76 which is a very good age in the 1920’s particularly if she had several children, had worked hard and lived in cramped conditions (1911 census shows most houses in Jervis St as multi-family). Looking at the GRO for the 1920’s it is not unusual to see ‘senile decay’ as a cause of death for people in their 60’s, She died of cardiac failure, aggravated by exposure and malnutrition which were secondary and tertiary causes.

Putting it in context she had lived a long life particularly as she was born during the Famine. Malnutrition during childhood can lead to long-term health problems. She died in late November, so it would have been cold and as she was old/malnourished/thin this would have exacerbated the risk of exposure. The fact that there was no food in her intestines is telling, but several causes could be attributed to this. Mental health issues could have been a factor (as mentioned by Hermy above) – lassitude would be quite normal in a 76 year-old in the 1920’s. Older people, especially those who live on their own - even today - are at higher risk of malnutrition. Also. medically she might have had difficulty absorbing nutrients e.g. coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease, difficulty in swallowing, etc.

IMO in view of her age it is unusual that there was an inquest, although a coroner can hold one if a death has been sudden and unexplained. Had she been attending a doctor for heart disease the cert would have ‘x days / months certified’ and there probably would not have been an inquest.