An historic sketch of the causes, progress, extent, and mortality of the contagious fever epidemic in Ireland during the years 1817, 1818, and 1819 ... / by William Harty.

Date:
1820
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An historic sketch of the causes, progress, extent, and mortality of the contagious fever epidemic in Ireland during the years 1817, 1818, and 1819 ... / by William Harty. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    XVlli iny intention to add to their number : my object merely is to bring together such interesting docurnents, rebi- tiveto the general history and management of the Epide- mic, as might otherwise be lost, or hereafter become diffi- cult of access; to attempt a short statistical survey of the disease ; and to leave a record, though imperfect yet not unfaithful, of its origin, progress, extent, and mortality- The utility of such an undertaking neither the physi- cian nor the statesman will dispute: the labour and dif- ficulty, however, which attended its execution few can justly appreciate, except those who may have made or meditated a similar attempt. Before I proceed to the direct object of this work, it may not be amiss to state the circumstances, which in- duced me to undertake this task, and those also, which retarded its completion to so late a period. Having, in conjunction with a great majority of the Physicians of Dublin, taken an active part in urging the necessity of strenuous efforts for the early suppression of the Epidemic in that city, and having also conjointly with them suggested, and offered gratuitously to execute the measures, in our judgment best calculated to accompKsh that object,* I felt, in common with my brethren, strong sensations both of disappoint- ment and disgust at the apathy which pervaded the public mind on such a subject, and at the obstacles successfully raised by certain individuals, against the ex- ecution of apian, sanctioned by the highest medical au- thorities in our metropolis, as being one by which much expense, much misery, and many valuable lives might have been spared to the community. Under these im- * See Documents No*. 1, 2, and 3 in the Appendix.