In many cases, the fever set in immediately after
recovering from the effects of starvation, and although scurvy preceded
the disease, neither it nor purpura was noticed to have occurred as a
concomitant symptom. In the Province of Connaught, the epidemic
commenced in many places during the year 1846, especially in the
Counties of Sligo and Leitrim; in the former locality the young were
chiefly attacked; in the latter fever broke out so early as June, when
upwards of two hundred cases were at one time in the Workhouse of
Carrick-on-Shannon; while, in the remote northern hilly districts of the
county, it did not appear until December, 1847; those attacked were, for
the most part, reduced from want of food. In some parts, the fever was
preceded by aphthous ulcers on the tongue and gums; young persons were
those chiefly attacked, and females more than males. In the County of
Roscommon, the previous health of the population was much impaired;
bowel complaints were frequent; the fever commenced in the end of 1846
or beginning of 1847, and was very prevalent. The Workhouse of Castlerea
was one of the most severely afflicted during the epidemic, of any
similar class of institution in Ireland--as many as fifty persons a week
having died at one period subsequent to this--and, for a long time, all
attempt at separate burial was found impossible.
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