[Articles on Fever and Cholera]

Galway Advertiser 2nd June, 1832

Vol XVI No. 22

Fever Hospital

Several influential and respectable individuals have been speaking to us about the mysterious manner in which the affairs of the institution are managed. Not a single jots of the receipts or expenditures are ever submitted to the public — We ourselves have known, at former periods of contagion and sickness, 150 patients to be in the Fever Hospital at once, and why should it not now be able to accommodate neatly a similar sum, here. We have made inquiry on the subject, and we understand that there are not more than 8 or 10 fever patients, and those convalescent, and yet the Board of Health are reduced to the extremity of taking the premature step of turning the Town Court—House into a Cholera Hospital, a building which has cost the public nearly £5,000. When the disease is fever, the expense for picking the walls, white—washing, painting, fumigating, &c.&c., will nearly amount to a sum that would build a new Hospital, and it is a question, after all, if any of the judges will consent to sit in it for two years to come and, notwithstanding all this enormous expense the people of Galway are left without an Hospital for the accommodation of their sick, or if they are to have one, by this Galway mode of doing business we will, in simple language be obliged to pay for it twice. Could not sheds have been built about the Hospital for Fever patients who do not require such warmth as those in Cholera, and have the Hospital entirely appropriated for the use of the latter, or, to adopt a more straightforward course, remove at once the fever patients into the Court House, for which disease the public in general have not such an antipathy, if any at all. But so it is, no matter about inconveniencing or giving annoyance to the public, so as the private feelings and motives of certain gentlemen are consulted and gratified. However, we shall repeat our call for the accounts of the Fever Hospital, that the same may be submitted to the consideration of the public; if they are withheld we have our course before us.

Cholera

Subjoined in the report of the state of Cholera for the past week, up to twelve o'clock this day, and it may be seen that there is an increase as compared with the preceding one. The desolating effects of this frightful and alarming disease will be long felt by this Town. Trade is virtually at a stand; some of our respectable Shopkeepers have closed up their establishments, and those that are open are merely so from matter of form. The usual influx of country people on Market days has ceased, and those that do come in, nothing but dire necessity compel them. Our grain and other Markets are no longer supplied, and should this state of things continue much longer, the most fearful consequences are to be anticipated — what will poor working tradesmen do with families depending upon them when they are not earning a shilling. There is no alternative but the most prompt and decisive measures to be taken by our charitable and humane. Let them not be soliciting, but make it imperative on those who have the means and who have fled from their posts, contribute forthwith to the charity fund for providing food for the people. We will venture to state that at this moment, there are from ten to twelve thousand people in or about Galway, that have not a days provision in their houses. If we are to prevent the spread of Cholera let us endeavour as much as possible to put a stop to the march of hunger. The Resolution of the Relief Committee we fully appreciate, of not confining contribution to those whose friends have died with the Cholera, but to everyone whom they find (as far as they have funds) in actual want. We caution the Committee, however, that they may not in some instances be imposed on. We understand that a practice prevails of getting a ticket in the first instance from the Clergyman, or other person of the parish in which the distressed individual or family may be, then going to another parish representing themselves as belonging to it, and procuring another. By this mode of proceeding, some families are paid twice, while others may get none, the funds being limited. We are credibly informed this plan has in some instance actually succeeded.