Vanson Pratt

Vanson Pratt (1846 - 1847)

Infant son of Orson Pratt (1811 - 1881) and Sarah Marinda Bates (1817 - 1888), Vanson Pratt was born 23 January 1846 at Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, and died at the age of 18 months at Winter Quarters [present Omaha], Douglas County, Nebraska Territory. He was buried at Mormon Pioneer Cemetery, Grave #182, Florence.

What Is Dropsy?

Dropsy, also known as water on the brain, is a collection of serous fluid in the cellular membrane of the brain. It also occurs when a fluid is collected in the ventricles of the brain, producing dilation of the pupils. It may be of a chronic nature when the water increases to an enormous quantity which effects the bones of the head and there is absorption of the brain. Symptoms of dropsy on the brain include pain in the head, dilation of the pupils, nausea, vomiting, slowness of the pulse and convulsions, loss of appetite and increase in the size of the head.

Etiology: Dropsy of the brain is caused by a collection of water between the membranes of the brain. It also appears that dropsy is a result of an inflammation of the arachnoid (meninge) membrane of the brain.

Modern Day Equivalents: Hydrocephalus is a modern day equivalent of dropsy of the brain.

Sources

• Winter Quarters Cemetery: Grave #182; Name: Vanson Pratt; Death date: 22 Jul 1847; Cause of death: Dropsy of the Brain.
• Hooper, Robert M.D. F.L.S. Lexicon-Medicum; or Medical Dictionary. New York: J. & J. Harper, 1826; Scholl, B. Frank. Library ofHealth: Complete Guide to Prevention and Cure of Disease. Philadelphia: Historical Publishing Company, 1944.

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• Updated from MyHeritage Match via brother Lorus Bishop Pratt by SmartCopy: Sep 14 2014, 23:46:35 UTC