Help deciphering medical discharge reason.

[Kevin Tobin]

Private 202106 George T Hodgkins, 2/4th Oxf & Bucks LI was discharged and given a SWB. The date of disability was listed as 1st Jan 1917 Abbeville. He was recovering in hospital in Fulham when he rescued a 4 year old child from the Thames. This was said to have aggravated his condition and he died in 1918.

 

Can anyone help decipher why he was discharged ? The only thing I can make out is the word gland.

Another question is he has no CWGC but his disability and subsequent death were as a result of the illness exacerbated by trench service. Should he be an in from the cold?

 

I have all details from Ancestry and Newspapers.

 

Thank you

[David26]

Hi Kevin,

 

It looks like the following to me though no doubt those better used to reading doctors' handwriting may be along  soon and suggest beter alternatives :

 

"First noticed swelling of glands in March 1915 and no trouble until March 1916 when glands became larger. Consulted doctor and no treatment.  Shortage of breath ?started? Oct 1916 - became worse and glands increased in size while in France (Dec 24th 1916). Was evacuated home on Jan 25th and admitted here. Gland (unreadable) and found to be probably Hodgkin's disease and chronic inflammatory (unreadable). "

 

David.

[headgardener]

Agree with David's reading. The missing words are "Gland examined c microscope and found to be probably Hodgkin's disease + chronic inflammatory change". The abbreviation 'c' means 'with'. The likely cause is stated to be "Constitutional" (i.e. arisen as a result of a natural physiological process) 

[Kevin Tobin]

Thank you for the very quick response.

 

So as it was a natural illness, even though it was aggravated by service and led to his death it would not make him a CWGC case. 

[headgardener]

His condition occurred as a result of his body's own natural processes as opposed to being an injury or sickness acquired during military service, and he died as a civilian. So, no, he wouldn't be entitled to CWGC. 

[Robert Dunlop]

Well done with deciphering the text. George Hodgekins had all the signs and symptoms of a moderately aggressive cancer of the lymph glands. The disease evolved over 3 years from first presentation and would have been unrelated to his military service. The cancer would have started at least one year, probably more, before it became evident. Hence 'Constitutional'.

 

Robert

Edited 15 September , 2020 by Robert Dunlop
Spelling of surname corrected to 'Hodgekins'

[Kevin Tobin]

Thank you all.
 His brave deed as reported in the Daily Mirror. Thanks to the BNA