Historic sketch of the causes, extent, and mortality of contagious fever epidemic in Ireland in 1741 : and during 1817, 1818, and 1819 ; together with a review of the causes, medical and statistical, productive of epidemic fever in Ireland / by William Harty.

  • Harty, William, 1781-1854.
Date:
1820
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Historic sketch of the causes, extent, and mortality of contagious fever epidemic in Ireland in 1741 : and during 1817, 1818, and 1819 ; together with a review of the causes, medical and statistical, productive of epidemic fever in Ireland / by William Harty. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    and yet during the whole of that period the disease has not only constantly existed, but within the last eighty years, besides producing several minor and partial epide- mics, has thrice raised its terrific head, and extending its influence over the whole island, has slain its thousands and its tens of thousands. The years 174-1, 1801, and 1817, furnish three memorable instances of the conjoint ravages of famine and disease: the first, though long since passed by, is still a subject of familiar reference : the second is yet fresh in our recollection ;* and res- pecting the last, it shall be my business to detail, in as simple and concise a form as possible, such tacts as may illustrate the causes, progress, extent, and mortality of that fatal epidemic, of which it was productive. In proceeding with this detail I may perhaps be per- mitted to take for granted one property of this Epide- mic, until the proper opportunity arise for discussing the point; I mean its contagious character. That it possessed this property is sufficiently notorious, and its c * The Fever of 1801 does not appear to have been epidemic through- out the whole island ; its greatest prevalence at least was confined to the southern provinces, and according to the best accounts I could collect, would seem to have been in a great degree propagated from the county of Wexford. That county, being the chief seat of rebellion in 179P, suffered most severely from civil warfare, and during the continuance and after the cessation of hostilities Contagious Fever was very prevalent among the crowded poor of its towns : the infection thus generated was lively diffused by the scarcity and bad quality of previsions during the years 1799 and 1803. I have not succeeded in procuring any written account of the Epidemic of that season j indeed I doubt much whether any such account is to be had in print.