Daily AncestorToxemia of pregnancy
Toxemia of pregnancy is the outdated name for pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure and swelling in late pregnancy that could lead to fatal convulsions.
The name came from the mistaken belief that the condition was caused by toxins in the blood. Its signs include swelling and high blood pressure, and it can lead to eclampsia, the seizures that old records called puerperal convulsions.
The first known description goes back to Hippocrates. Wiktionary also gives toxemia a broader sense of blood poisoning, so check whether pregnancy is mentioned.
As seen in a recordCause of death line, state death certificate, 1910s to 1930s
Rose Hahn, 23, F, W, Toxemia of pregnancy
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Daily Ancestor. "Toxemia of pregnancy." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/causes-of-death/toxemia-of-pregnancy. Last checked 2026-10-10.