Observations on the connexion between famine and fever in Ireland, and elsewhere / by Henry Kennedy.

  • Kennedy, Henry, 1811?-1887.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the connexion between famine and fever in Ireland, and elsewhere / by Henry Kennedy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Epidemic, at a time when want existed, or was even on the increase, cannot be reconciled with it. A theory, too, should be able to explain the several circumstances of each particular case. Now, how will the theory we are discussing explain the fact which occurred in so many of the epidemic fevers already alluded to, viz.:—that before want was felt, sometimes years before, fever was observed to have been very much on the increase.* I may be, and confess am unable to explain this fact; but, at the same time, I cannot understand why the cause, whatever it may be, should not go on till the fever reaches the height of an Epidemic; and that, without any want existing at all; and I think, those who differ from me in opinion, are called on to explain why this may not be the case. If fever increase up to a certain extent, want of food not existing at all, and that such occurs is beyond dispute, why may it not go on till it becomes an Epidemic ? Why may not the cause, which first made the fever increase, continue? It would be going rather too far, I conceive, to say that fever may increase to a certain point; but, in order that it can become Epidemic, a new cause, viz.: famine, must then exist. This would be contrary to all probability; and what is of more consequence, it is contrary to all our experience on the matter. We have seen that fevers arise, and become Epidemic in turn, over the entire globe; and this where want has not existed at all. We see such in England, and Scotland too; and yet, with these facts before our eyes, we are told that Ireland is an exception ; that if there be no famine there will be no fever; and that however other circumstances may vary, famine is never absent. We see exactly the same series of phenomena in this country which attend on “an Epidemic constitution ” else- where ; and still we are taught not to expect the same results. Abroad we see fever gradually reaching its acme; taking months, or it may be years, to reach this point; and doing so quite independent of the supply of food; but when precisely similar phenomena take place in Ireland, they must then be set down to famine as their * It must not be understood, from what is stated above, that the number of fever patients fluctuates during “ Epidemic seasons ” only. On the contrary, the numbers vary much in other years; and this, let it be observed, when the general conditions of our poor is not different the one year from the other; at least as far as can be made out. It is unnecessary to give numbers here in proof of this. But it may be stated, that in the years 1839<1840, the applicants to the Cork-street Hospital were more than double those in the years 1842-43. Examples of a similar kind could be given without end. But what is still more remarkable, a particular month of a certain year may afford such a number of cases of fever as to call for special notice. An occurrence of this kind took place in December, 1844; as the following sentence, taken from the records of the Institution already spoken of, shows :—“ The Committee observing1 that the numbers in the Hospital have increased very much during this month, request to know from the physicians if they have any special remark to make on this subject to them.” The answer of the physicians need not be given. The increase of fever, however, was but temporary. How occurrences of the kind just spoken of can be reconciled with the theory which makes famine the paramount cause of this disease, I must leave others to determine.