Cholera in County Louth, 1832-39

County Louth Archaeological and History Society

Cholera in County Louth, 1832-39Author(s): Patricia DuffySource: Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society, Vol. 20, No. 2(1982), pp. 117-126Published by: County Louth Archaeological and History SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27729546 .

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Cholera in County Louth,

1832-39

By Patricia Duffy

The cholera epidemic which swept across Europe, eventually reaching Ireland in 1832, was

by no means a minor occurrence in Co Louth. The appearance of cholera in Europe had been a

great menacing factor to public health in those countries affected by it. The pandemic of

1826-32 had spread from India in 1817, reaching central Europe in 1829 and 1830 and arriving in England in November, 1831.1 The cholera epidemic reached Ireland in 1832 causing

mortality rates of up to 76% in some places.2 It struck Dublin on 22 March 1832, Belfast on 14

April but was not reported until 21 August in Wexford.3 The Board of Health, known as the

Cholera Board during the epidemic, supplied statistics and accounts of the number of deaths.4

Much information was provided about the disease and the Government undertook preventive measures to relieve the situation, such measures being put into effect as soon as the epidemic

struck.

Provision was made for the appointment of local Boards of Health which were to be elected

from "Governors of fever hospitals, medical practitioners, clergy of all persuasions and respect able inhabitants" and were not to consist of more than 13 members.5 Where the fever appeared it was "lawful to hold a meeting between the magistrates and the medical practitioners to assess

the number of persons or families being sufferers, and ascertain if precautions need to be

taken".6

Cholera is a highly contagious disease spread by carriers, through the agency of food, water

and fomites, aided by defective sanitation. Without suffering a recognizable attack of the disease

it is possible to become a carrier. The Central Board of Health lacking a full knowledge, but

having some understanding of the importance of cleanliness, made attempts to improve the

insanitary conditions prevalent in Ireland which accelerated the spread of the disease in the

country. The importance of ventilating the home, the speedy removal of the dead and the

avoidance of intemperance were advocated.7 On 2 July 1832, the Central Board of Health

issued directions to have county gaols and court houses "fumigated without delay" and recom

mended that "all persons attending such court houses be as clean as possible." A proclamation was issued also on "the most effectual modes of prevention and remedy for places of public

worship".8 The affluent were encouraged to exert themselves "to provide for the poor such

means of resisting or escaping the disease as can be afforded" .9 The Board also directed public attention to the leading symptoms of the disease which were described as follows:

"... great laxity of the bowels, often with vomiting; the matter discharged resembling

1 T. P. O'Neill, "Fever and Public Health in Pre-Famine Ireland", I.R.S.A.I., 103, (1973), 16. 2 ibid. 3 R. J. Graves, "Sketch of the Origin and Progress of Asiatic Cholera", Dublin In. of Medical Science, II, (Sept.

1832). 4 O'Neill, op. cit., 17.

5 Chief secretary's office, Official papers, 1832, no. 33. 6 ibid., 1832, no. 13. 7 Cholera Proclamations, 1832 (Transferred papers, P.R.O.I., 1 A/46/13). 8 ibid. 9 ibid.

117



118 County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal

whey, thin gruel or barley water. Depression of the vital powers, indicated by loss of

strength, weakness of voice, reduction of the pulse and of the natural heat of the body. The

features becoming sharp and contracted, the eyes sunk, with a livid dark line round them.

Cramps beginning at the toes or the tips of the fingers and gradually but rapidly approach

ing the body. Sometimes the lips, face, neck, hands, feet or the whole surface of the body

assuming a leaden, blue or purple colour. The skin on the hands and feet becoming wrinkled ? the surface of the body cold, damp and clammy, the tongue moist, often white

and loaded, but always flabby and chilled, like a piece of dead flesh".10

Not only had the establishment of local Boards of Health been recommended but also "the

appointment of places where advice and medicine can at all hours be obtained with as little delay as possible and the establishment of small hospitals to which the sick can be removed with all

possible expedition, for which purpose suitable wheel carriages or litters should be provided". Where such hospitals were established, supported by public funds, it was expected "that the

medical attendants will furnish to the Central Board of Health for Ireland, a daily account of the

cases either received into hospital or occurring in their neighbourhood, according to a stated

form".11

Local officers of health were exhorted to prevent the introduction of persons "known to be

infected with cholera into a place free from it", but cutting off communication from one place to

another was not considered permissible.12

In May of 1833, the Central Board of Health was dissolved owing to the cessation of cholera

throughout the country, and no further expenses were to be incurred by local Boards of Health

for the prevention of cholera after its dissolution.13 The Central Board had carried out corres

pondence with nearly 600 Boards of Health, had kept accounts of sums advanced to these

boards for the prevention and relief of cholera and had inspected their accounts as well as

supplying advice as how to arrest the disease.14

Such were the workings of the Central Board of Health, operating at a national level. What

of the situation in county Louth? Boards of Health in Louth were situated in the districts of

Dundalk, Drogheda, Ardee, Coll?n, Tullyallen, Dunleer, Termonfeckin, Carlingford and Bal

lymascanlon. The epidemic was first rumoured in Carlingford in February of 1832 when a

certain Mr Christian of Carlingford wrote to the Central Board of Health concerning a death in

the locality, supposedly from cholera. Doctor Black, the medical superintendent of the area, made a statement on the issue, believing the cause of death to have been cholera but only having attended the victim after death. The Central Board of Health replied cautiously that the real

nature of the case could be determined with no certainty but urged that precautionary measures, as recommended in the Second Report of the General Board of Health, be adopted if any further cases occurred.15 Carlingford was in fact the first location after Ardee from which the

disease was reported late in April 1832. By 4 May, 16 cases were reported there, 12 of whom

had died. By July the victims were 46 in number with 37 deaths. Out of a population of 1,27716

by the end of the year the disease had claimed 51 lives and had affected 61 people.17 The Board

10 ibid.

11 ibid.

12 Chief secretary's office, Official papers, 1832, no. 523.

13 ibid., 1833, no. 26.

14 ibid., 1833, no. 445.

15 Chief secretary's office, Registered papers, 1832, no. 907.

16 Census of Ireland, 1841, 182, H.C. 1843 (504), xxiv.




Cholera in County Louth, 1832-39 119

of Health sought voluntary contributions to help cope with the disease from April, but as none

was forthcoming the Central Board of Health was approached for a loan of ?50. The Board

reported much distress and poverty in the locality, due not only to the presence of cholera, but

also to the failure of the linen trade and fishing.18 The very first case of cholera in the county was reported from Ardee. The dispensary

minute book first recorded the disease on 24 April.19 On 27 April, Doctor Macardle confirmed

there were three cases, one of which was fatal. In the ensuing months various precautions were

taken to guard against the disease. Initially 200 flannel belts "used for preventation against cholera"20 were ordered. The dispensary afforded various other facilities including 147 cholera

bandages provided free of charge by 10 June.21 The medical officer was given the power to order

bottled porter and spirits in cases of fever, and brandy in cases of cholera, at his own discretion.

Houses infected with the fever were whitewashed if the occupiers were unable to afford the

expense themselves.22 The committee stated its desire to make medical assistance available to

those who needed it. An assistant medical gentleman was employed at the dispensary whose

services were availed of for the duration of the epidemic. Dr Linton, who replaced Dr Munkit

rick, he having obtained leave of absence at the outset of the epidemic on the basis of ill-health, was highly praised by the committee. So too were Dr McArdle, assistant to the dispensary and

Mr Anthony Smith, who were both generous and considerate in their attendance upon the poor.

By 10 June the committee declared the town to be free from the malignant disease. The

condition of health amongst the poor was stated to be very favourable and the services of the

medical assistant were no longer required. In August, however, the disease attacked again; but

by early September Surgeon Linton reported an alleviation from the attack. The dispensary remained well equipped with all necessary medicines but the worst of the visitation by cholera

was over. The cold weather dealt a death blow to the disease which petered out in the early winter and no further outbreaks were recorded for the remainder of the year.23 All in all, 163

cases of the disease occurred in Ardee for the whole of 1832, and out of a population of 4,00024 74 cases proved fatal.25 The local Board of Health collected ?122.40 in voluntary contributions.

The board complained to the Central Board of Health that contributions were not received from

landlords, they being absentees. The district was described as being quite poor with unemploy ment being a great hazard for much of the year, and the wretched dwellings of the poor caused

much difficulty and expense to the board in the prevention of spasmodic cholera.26 The Central

Board of Health forwarded ?300 to the district in September of 1832 to help them cope with the

return of the disease.27

The town of Drogheda was ravaged by the fearful cholera morbus early in May, the earliest

report of three cases, two of which were fatal, was submitted to the Central Board of Health on 3

May. By 10 May there were 37 cases, 18 of whom died. This figure increased dramatically to 835

by 3 July with 372 deaths and to a staggering 1,213 cases, 419 of whom died, by the end of

August.28 One needs only to study the numerous applications for aid to the Central Board of

18 Cholera Papers (Transferred papers, P.R.O.I., 1 A/46/9/45). 19 H. O'Sullivan, "Ardee Dispensary Minute Book, 1813-1851", C.L.A.I., XVI, 1, (1965), 5-27. 20 ibid., 24.

21 ibid., 25. 22 ibid., 25.

23 ibid., 25. 24 Census of Ireland, 1841, 182, H.C. 1843 (504), xxiv. 25 Chief secretary's office, Official papers, 1832, no. 568. 26 Cholera Papers (Transferred papers, P.R.O.I., 1A/46/9/90). 27 Chief secretary's office, Official papers, 1834, no. 384. 28 ibid., 1832, no. 568.




Health to gauge the plight of the inhabitants. Having found it necessary to establish a second

hospital and employ medical advice from Dublin, St Mary's parish was forced to apply for a loan

of ?200 on 29 July from the Central Board.29 Previously on 30 June a further ?100 had been

sought to contribute to the soup kitchen and support the hospital in conjunction with St. Peter's.

Another ?200 was requested to liquidate the debt incurred by sending patients from St Mary's to

the hospital of St Peter's.30

St Peter's parish was in even more desperate need of aid and both its applications and the amounts requested were more numerous than for St Mary's parish. A Board of Health was

established on 5 May 183231 and they, having found it "absolutely necessary" to open a second

hospital and employ medical men from Dublin, requested ?500 from the Central Board on 11

June for this purpose.32 By this time the parish was serving 1,200 families (4,800 persons) daily with soup and bread, had given clean straw for bedding to 2,000 families, distributed 220 pairs of

blankets to families of cholera patients and had their own destroyed, made up 450 yards of

flannel into vests, shifts, drawers and night caps for cholera patients, had 540 yards of coarse

linen made into bed ticks, and had bolsters stuffed with oaten straw for the cholera and

convalescent hospitals. Twenty men and two overseers had been employed in whitewashing houses and filling up pools of stagnant water with earth.

The effects of the epidemic were described by the Board of Health as follows :

"The destitution to which the working classes has been reduced by cholera is really incredible. Our medical and local inspectors report that many families are in such a state of

complete dependence and exhaustion, caused by the death of fathers and brothers, that if

not supported from the soup shop, they must perish and that it is impossible to rid the town

of the disorder if such persons be neglected."33

The hospital established was taken over by the officers of health in June, the schoolhouse being used as a cholera hospital.34

The General Board of Health notified St Peter's parish that advances would be made to the

parish only for the purpose of liquidating debts. Already in August ?2,000 had been granted for

this purpose and applications continued.35 Employment of the population of 17,400 had become

nearly extinct by July except for the public work given by officers of health, filling up holes and

stagnant pools of water.36 In all, the town of Drogheda received ?3,900 in aid from the Central

Board between 17 May and 17 August of 1832.37 In return for the amounts advanced from the

consolidated fund of the Board of Health, ?735 95. 9d. was to be levied off the town of Drogheda

"by six half-yearly presentments commencing at the Lent assizes 1833".38 A period of three

years was fixed for the repayments due to the large expense.39 By 1833 many petitions were submitted by the inhabitants of the town, seeking remission of

these repayments and complaining of the burden of taxation. A petition to the Grand Jury on 8

March 1833 stated the plight of those obliged to bear the brunt of taxation. The petitioners

29 Cholera Papers (Transferred papers, P.R.O.I., 1 A/46/9/30). 30 ibid..

31 ibid. 32 ibid.

33 ibid., 1 A/46/9/19. 34 ibid.

35 ibid., 1 A/46/9/65. 36 i?wd., 1 A/46/9/40. 37 Chief secretary's office, Official papers, 1832, no. 384. 38 ibid., 1833, no. 324.





argued that assessments were frequently eight shillings to ten shillings per acre on land, a

considerable part of which was not worth more than one guinea per acre. Only 3,000 acres bore

the burden of all Grand Jury presentments. The gaol, costing ?614 per annum required As. Id.

per acre; roads costing ?160 per annum demanded Is. Id. per acre and salaried officers,

receiving ?388 per annum inflicted a further levy of 2s. Id. per acre. In addition to such regular and usual charges, ?735 95. 9d. advanced during the cholera epidemic and ?2,869 for officers of

health increased the taxation demands. The petitioners suggested that all sums advanced

during the cholera epidemic should become a public charge, defrayed out of the general funds of

the nation. The required sum should be levied off the houses and other buildings of the town or

else Drogheda should be attached to counties Meath and Louth. In response to this petition the

magistrates of Drogheda agreed to bring the situation to the notice of the Government and

declared that the assessment of rates was to be adjourned "unwilling that any sum should be

collected which could wider impoverish the state of this County" .40 Another petition of the same

nature argued that "no County in Ireland is so heavily taxed as the County and town of

Drogheda" .41 Requests were later made for responsible persons to be appointed to collect the

repayments of the scheme,42 which seems to suggest the levy was being abused in some manner.

The case of Drogheda during the cholera epidemic of 1832 is no better put than in a

memorial sent by the inhabitants to Dublin Castle, stating how the town was afflicted with one of

the most fatal and calamitous visitations of spasmodic cholera known in the United Kingdom, how the epidemic raged for four months and that of a population of 17,500 an estimated 1,500

persons fell victim to it. The case for remission of the debt was put in the form of the following

points :

1. A state of distress previously unknown within the town arose, due to the suspension of

trade and business, the population being "for the most part of the manufacturing class

and dependent on labour for their daily bread".

2. As a result of mortality and the vacating of the town by many of the respectable

inhabitants, who did not return, many of the best houses of the town remained uninha

bited.

3. The absence of many of the wealthier class augmented the general distress, and

increased numbers of widows, orphans, old and decayed persons were now burdened on

the public.

4. The benevolence of the gentlemen of the town, who' ' took every precautionary measure

and by voluntary contributions cleansed the town and suburbs and endeavoured to place the poor in a condition to resist the expected attack of the disease", had exhausted their

means, a situation worsened by the changed circumstances in the town and a suspension of business.

5. The corporate jurisdiction of Drogheda, though extending to only 3,000 acres, bore the

cost of a gaol, a hospital, and a regular county establishment. In 1832 cess amounted to

1 Is. Id. per acre, with an additional parish cess of Is. per acre. In consequence, both the

trading and working classes were left in equal distress and "so far from being able to bear


41 Chief secretary's office, Unregistered papers, 1833, no. 251.




122 County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society

an augmentation of their burdens they have long and anxiously endeavoured to be

relieved of their pressure".

6. Despite the circumstances of reduced means, a general depression of real property, an

increase in pauperism and a severe local taxation, the inhabitants were now requested to

repay advances to the Board of Health.

In conclusion they argued that although cholera was a national affliction they felt they should

not bear the exclusive weight of the charge because of how the town suffered as a consequence of

the epidemic.43

The epidemic visited Dundalk in May of 1832, the first recorded case being on 5 May.44 By 10 May there were two cases, both of whom died. The numbers of cases rose to 127 by 31 July

with 80 deaths, and by 18 September there had occurred 193 cases, 114 of whom died. By this

stage the worst of the epidemic was over as only one further case which also proved to be fatal, was recorded by the end of the year.45 As the disease affected both sexes and people of all ages and classes, a co-operation of all classes was called for.46

The Board of Health set up auxiliary hospitals for the reception of cholera victims, patients

being conveyed on a sort of bier called a stretcher, arched over with a dark covering between two

men and the infected person. The removal of the invalid was always ordered by the Board of

Health and frequently a confrontation between the friends of the patient and the porters at the

hospital ensued. It would appear from various reports there was a great reluctance and aversion

to entering the hospital. There are some indications that the reason for this lay in the treatment

meted out at the hospital and it may also be associated with a fear of dying away from one's

family and friends. Those who suffered death were buried unceremoniously, the coffins being

put on a cart without any covering whatever and sometimes half a dozen were piled one on top of

another. Corpses were frequently interred without even being undressed because of the large numbers of victims claimed by the disease.47

The Board of Health was very concerned about the state of cleanliness and sanitation in the town. By January of 1832 the duties of the Inspector of Nuisances had been increased, and the

Board sought ?20 from the Central Board of Health to defray the expense of his increased

salary.48 Great concern was shown about the removal of filth from the town. On February 4 the Board of Health had the following advertisement posted up in the town :

"Persons disposed to undertake the white washing of the houses of the poor in the

respective districts in the town will send in their proposals in writing to the Board of Health in the Market House on Saturday 11th.

The contract will be for such houses only as may appear to the Board of Health successful and payment will only be made on the certification of the District Visitor that the work

inside and out has been properly executed".49

The work was to be done by the inhabitants themselves wherever possible, and lime brushes

43 Chief secretary's office, Official papers, 1833, no. 51. 44 ibid., 1832, no. 568.

45 ibid.

46 J. Brown(e), "Medical Report of the Dundalk "Destitute Sick Society" .. '\DublinJn. of Medical Science, XV,

(1839), 410-23. 47 J. Mathews, "Old Dundalk", Dundalk Examiner, 17 July 1920.


49 ibid., 1832, no. 510.




were supplied by the board where necessary.50 Also in February a commission for lighting and

cleansing the town was established and the board considered itself exonerated from taking

charge of nuisances in the streets once it came into operation.51 The slaughter-house, which in its

condition was likely to become a receptacle of disease, was the source of much anxiety to the

board who requested the earl of Roden to close it. Rather than fulfil the board's wishes, the earl

undertook to ensure the house was kept clean and the manure in the house was to be sold for the

benefit of the board. Early in March the board also sought the removal of manure from the

houses without delay by requesting people with potato ground to offer it as early as possible. In

the same month four tons of straw were offered to the fever hospital, which was also repaired, and measures were adopted for the cleansing of the main town sewer.52

Vessels entering the port of Dundalk were put under precautionary quarantine and if no

disease was found to exist on board, the vessel was released immediately, but if the reverse was

the case it was obliged to proceed to a quarantine station.53

By July the Board of Health requested the Town Commissioners to close Camp Street and

Linenhall Street. Hamilton's Lane was to be repaired and cleansed and improvements made to

prevent stagnant water remaining in the street as cholera had made its appearance on this north

side of the town. The commissioners appointed persons to undertake the task and to make new

footpaths in the same area. Surveyors reported frequently to the board on the progress made in

this respect.54 People were warned not to pass through the closed streets of the town, notices to

this effect have been placed where it was considered necessary.55 Not only did the disease strike the inhabitants of the town, but at least two foreigners fell

victim to it as well. The Russian Horn Band which was engaged in the Market House found two

of its members severely ill after their performance in the town. The symptoms were presumed to

be choleraic and the victims were removed to the cholera hospital in Anne Street where they died in a few days and were buried in the yard. Seemingly the management of the fever hospital was under great suspicion for ill-treatment following the rumours that spread regarding the

treatment of the two Russians.56

The most spectacular rumour of all occurred, however, in May of 1832, when people were

aroused from their sleep in the middle of the night by a loud knocking on their doors and were

awakened to the frightening news that cholera was in Carrickmacross, that all the inhabitants

there were dead and the town deserted. Everyone was commanded to gather five stones, repeat a prescribed form of prayer and serve five houses with a stone accompanying each stone with the

message they had received. As may be expected commotion and chaos consumed the town and

the entire county was in an uproar. Men and women are reported to have run like maniacs to

serve the stones, some reaching the mountain track to Omeath before they found a house that

wasn't served. The torrential rain that same night caused many deaths, but the origin of the

"mysterious uprising" is now a matter of conjecture. The plot has been attributed to O'Connell

who supposedly wished to ascertain how soon Ireland might be aroused from end to end. The

answer would have been very favourable to him, for the mail coach that left Cork for Belfast

reported that the distribution of the stones had been in Belfast long before it reached there.57

50 ibid., 1832, no. 714.

51 ibid. 52 ibid.

53 ibid., 1832, no. 510.

54 Dundalk Town Commissioners, Court of the Bailiff, 4 July 1832. Document now in possession of Dundalk Urban District Council, Town Hall, Dundalk.

55 Mathews, op. cit.

56 ibid.

57 ibid.



124 County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society

In all, Dundalk received ?500 from the Central Board of Health to alleviate the situation.58

When Dr Mitchel left Dundalk to attend the fever hospital in Carrickmacross in October of

1832, Mr Parks was left to ascertain any new cases of the disease occurring from that month

onwards.59

In the barony of Upper Dundalk, the Ballymascanlon district set up a Board of Health in

Augustl832,in response to the threat of disease although no case had been as then recorded in

the district.60 Voluntary contributions of ?30 were collected from private subscribers to provide fresh straw and bedding and lime was provided by several land proprietors. A loan of ?50 was

forwarded in August, followed by ?25 in October when contagion was spreading.61 Of a

population of 6,772,11 cases of the disease occurred in the district, seven of which were fatal.62

The Board of Health for Dunleer was refused an application for ?50 to aid in arresting the

progress of the disease in their district on the sole grounds that the Central Board of Health had

no cognizance of the establishment of a Board of Health in the district. The Central Board

demanded a confirmation that such a board had been set up and a re-application for the loan.63

Of a population of 1,680, 20 persons fell victim to the disease, 11 of whom died in the year 1832.64

The parishes of Coll?n, Termonfeckin and Tullyallen each had its own Board of Health

which submitted returns of the disease to the Central Board of Health and applied for loans to

cope with the disorder in their respective communities. Coll?n parish received ?30 in May, ?20

in October of 1832 and ?50 in January of 1833. This last amount was to aid in defraying the

expenses of the medical assistant whom they were compelled to procure from a distance at a cost

of one guinea per day. This application was made in December of 1832 when it was reported there were no new cases of the disease but one death had occurred in the first week of

December.65 Voluntary contributions of ?6 17s. 3d. were expended on blankets for families of

persons who died as a result of the disease. 27 cases of the disease were reported from a

population of 2,747 for the whole of 1832, nine of which were fatal. The first case had not been

recorded until 20 August but by 4 September there were 11 cases with three deaths.66

Tullyallen parish had begun collecting voluntary contributions in June of 1832 to provide food for convalescents. In that same month an application for ?60 was made, the district being so

near Drogheda where cholera was raging.67 In July a further ?60 was forwarded by the Central

Board of Health and another ?105 at the end of October.68 The total number of cases occurring in the district was 157, 28 of which were fatal. In mid-July cases of the disease numbered 84, by 20 August 138 people had been infected and by 4 September the figure rose to 162 recorded

cases.69 (This latter figure appears to include Mell.) Termonfeckin witnessed only four cases of the disease for the whole of 1832, and all four

persons died, out of a population of 8,000.70 Voluntary contributions amounted to ?60 8s. by

58 Chief secretary's office, Official papers, 1834, no. 384. 59 Cholera Papers (Transferred papers, P.R.O.I., 1 A/46/12). 60 ibid., 1 A/46/9. 61 ibid.

62 Chief secretary's office, Official papers, 1832, no. 568. 63 Cholera Papers (Transferred papers, P.R.O.I., 1 A/46/9). 64 Chief secretary's office, Official papers, 1832, no. 568. 65 Cholera Papers (Transferred papers, 1 A/46/9). 66 Chief secretary's office, Official papers, 1832, no. 568. 67 Cholera Papers (Transferred papers, 1 A/46/9). 68 Chief secretary's office, Official papers, 1834, no. 384. 69 ibid., 1832, no. 568.

70 ibid., (Population figure includes Beaulieu, Newtown (in Tullyallen parish) and part of Ballymakenny).




August 1832, when ?100 was received from the Central Board of Health.71

The cholera epidemic lingered in Louth for some years after 1832, two cases having been

recorded as late as 183 9 in the rural district of the county. The total number of deaths recorded

for the county between the years 1832 and 1839 was 708.72 These figures appear to be more

acceptable than those furnished to the Central Board of Health which recorded only 289 deaths

for 1832 compared with 501 recorded in the census reports, excluding the town of Drogheda. In

the towns of Dundalk and Ardee, the epidemic had well nigh petered out by 1835, only one

further case being recorded for the remainder of the decade and that in 1836.73 Although the census figures may represent a more realistic picture of the situation in the county regarding the

disease, they still prove unsatisfactory, since in the histories written of the town of Dundalk there are records of an outbreak of cholera morbus in 1837.74 In helping to battle against the disease

one physician, Dr Fitzpatrick, became its victim and a monument was erected to his memory in

appreciation of his devotion to his profession.75 The deaths recorded for Drogheda for 1832 also

show a discrepancy with those recorded by the Central Board of Health, 708 deaths being recorded in the census reports compared with 491 by the Board of Health. The census reports also indicate that the epidemic was not only more severe in Drogheda than in the remainder of

the county, but that it lasted longer, four cases having been recorded in 183 9.76 As in the rest of

the county the epidemic struck its worst blow in 1832, for only 67 deaths are recorded from 1833

to 1839. The greatest proportion of deaths for the whole county from 1831-41 was from

epidemic, endemic and contagious diseases, 5,965 out of 18,887 deaths occurring from this

source. Among such diseases cholera was clearly the most destructive in the case of Drogheda with almost 46% of deaths caused by epidemic and contagious diseases. Cholera figured high as

a killer for the whole county in the numbers of deaths for the decade with only fever and

smallpox claiming more victims, and their appearance was more constant.77

The cholera epidemic of the 1830s thus dealt the county of Louth a hard blow. It is difficult

for us in the present day to envisage the horror, panic and helplessness experienced during those

dreadful years. The epitome of that frenzy is well represented in the following letter to a local

newspaper from the town of Ardee in May 1832 :

"I saw an awful sight myself, a woman who took ill on Monday and died was sent to the

country to be interred this morning. The country people, to prevent the disease spreading

(as they thought) stopped the corpse and obliged the friends who accompanied it to take it

back to Ardee. It lay in the street most of the day in a cart until some person had it buried in

the protestant church yard".78

What seems to have surprised the inhabitants of the county so much about the epidemic, apart from the high mortality rate it caused, was the fact that all classes of people appeared to be

equally exposed to it. This surprise is expressed especially in the local papers, particularly

following the death of the editor of the Drogheda Journal in May 183279 and that of the Rev Dr

71 Cholera Papers (Transferred papers, 1 A/46/9). 72 Census of Ireland, 1841, 182, H.C. 1843 (504), xxiv.

73 ibid. 74 P. Ua Dubhthaigh, The Book of Dundalk (Sligo, 1946), 45-9.

75 J. D'Alton and J. R. O'Flanagan, The History of Dundalk (Dundalk, 1864), 242.

76 Census of Ireland, 1841, xxiv.

77 ibid.

78 Drogheda Journal, 11 May 1832.

79 ibid.




Curtis, primate of all-Ireland, in July 1832.80

The people of the county were left hopeless and defeated at the indescribable misery the

disease caused. Again and again remedies and cures had been printed in the local papers, such as

the following:

"To one common bottle of brandy, put in XU lb. of best stick of turkey rhubarb; this to be

placed over a slow fire for ten hours, in a closed vessel; then strain and squeeze the contents

through a piece of fine muslin to obtain the entire strength of the rhubarb, to this add 120

drops of laudanum, and the same quantity of spirit of lavender; this will make a dozen

doses of one wine glass each; a dose to be given in the first attack of vomiting; and should it

be severe and not stop in half an hour after the first dose, the second to be given".81

Invariably, however, there was no report of the success of any such cures and the number of

deaths had continued to accelerate. In fact it was only in 1839 that it appeared to have at last

petered out only to return with a fresh invasion in the late 1840s.

80 Newry Telegraph, 31 July 1832.

81 Drogheda Journal, 23 March 1832.



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Cholera in County Louth, 1832-39

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