Brain Teasers
Death Cured?
My great-grandmother was exceptional from first to last. She was the first baby born in the state in 1851. She was almost the first centenarian in the family, but she died in 1950, one day before her 100th birthday.
The cause of her death was not unusual; thousands of people died of the same cause that year and also in previous years. Her death was exceptional because she was the last person ever to die from that cause in the United States.
What was the cause of death?
The cause of her death was not unusual; thousands of people died of the same cause that year and also in previous years. Her death was exceptional because she was the last person ever to die from that cause in the United States.
What was the cause of death?
Hint
Her age isn't important, but the date is. If she had lived just one more day, she wouldn't have died from that cause. No major disease was cured in 1951, but it would have been illegal to die from that cause.Answer
Old age.No American has died of old age since 1951. Old age was "cured" at a Public Health Conference on Records and Statistics. All state and federal agencies were ordered to adopt a standard list of 130 contributing and underlying causes of death. In 1951, the list deleted "old age" as a cause of death.
There is still some debate over whether old age is an appropriate cause of death. If someone dies peacefully in their sleep at age 95, one or several organs may have shut down, but isn't the underlying cause old age?
Hide Hint Show Hint Hide Answer Show Answer
What Next?
View a Similar Brain Teaser...
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
Solve a Puzzle
Comments hidden to avoid spoilers.
Follow Braingle!