gastric catarrah and liver disease

[ChattieKathy]

I've not seen this one before! A 37 year old woman who died in London of "chronic gastric catarrh and liver disease 12 months. Exhuastion". I did just a bit of looking around and it looks as though this could have been caused by alcohol abuse (which wouldn't surprise me, as it has been family oral history that this line has hidden alcohol abuse for generations). Any other ideas as to why, before I assume this lady was a lush???

Kathy

[Mutley]

When was this?

If we are looking at the 1800s then I believe the type of food eaten could also cause these problems.
Rancid food and pickled food, it's all to do with acids in the stomach. Of course, alcohol is also possible but you could be kind and say she was very fond of 'pickled herrings'.

[ChattieKathy]

She died in 1889...so I suppose it could be from food. Seems like her husband had a number of wives, as did his father. They just kept dying off!

[Peter Goodey]

Chronic gastritis appears to be the nearest in more modern terminology.

"...usually caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori but may be associated with smoking and chronic alcoholism..."