Daily AncestorSpina bifida
Spina bifida is a birth defect in which the spine does not close fully around the spinal cord; on old records it usually appears for a young infant.
The name is Latin for split spine. The bones and membranes around the spinal cord fail to close during early pregnancy, sometimes leaving a sac on the back.
IPUMS codes congenital malformations together in its scheme for the 1850 to 1880 mortality schedules. On an old record it is usually found for a young infant.
As seen in a recordCause of death column, 1850 to 1880 federal mortality schedule
Infant dau. of Wm. Saal, 3 wks., Spina bifida
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Daily Ancestor. "Spina bifida." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/causes-of-death/spina-bifida. Last checked 2026-10-10.