Cork Street Fever Hospital, Dublin
Encyclopedia
The Fever Hospital was a hospital that opened in Cork St. in Dublin, Ireland
on 14 May 1804. The hospital was located in a poor densely-populated part of the Dublin Liberties
, though it had large grounds. The objectives of the hospital were to care for the diseased in the neighbourhood and prevent the spread of infection in the homes of the poor.
The hospital initially accepted fever patients from five parishes in the Dublin Liberties
. A year after its foundation the cachement area was extended to the district south of the river Liffey as far as the South Circular Road
. By 1810 this was extended to the whole of the city of Dublin, and to all classes of applicants, which increased the financial pressure on the hospital. In the year 1812 over 2,200 patients were admitted. The hospital did succeed in checking the spread of disease, but the worsening unemployment in the Liberties following the Act of Union and occasional epidemics, such as Scarlet fever
, pushed up the mortality rate for the first few years of its existence. However, by 1815 the mortality rate in the hospital had declined to 1 in 20 (from 1 in 11 in 1804).
Dublin had six typhus
epidemics in the 18th century – it was not at the time known that typhus was caused by a louse-born organism, which flourished in unhygienic conditions. The hospital was extended in 1817–1819 to help cope with a national epidemic. Three thousand cases were admitted to the hospital in one month in 1818.
Another typhus epidemic hit Dublin in 1826. In the hospital, 10,000 people were treated for the infection. It was so overcrowded that tents were erected in the grounds (fortunately, over 4 acres (1.6 ha) acres in extent), and these provided 400 extra beds. Typhus came again at the time of the Irish Famine. During 1847 nearly 12,000 cases applied during a period of about ten months, although "amongst the poor at their own houses, .. vast numbers remained there, who either could not
be accommodated in hospital, or who never thought of applying". Typhus returned in the 1880s, when Gerard Manley Hopkins
died of the disease in Dublin.
In 1832 Dublin was ravaged by a cholera epidemic. Despite the best efforts of all concerned, thousands of victims died and were hastily buried in nearby Bully's Acre
.
In 1953 the Cherry Orchard Hospital in Ballyfermot
replaced the old Cork St. hospital, which was renamed Brú Chaoimhín and used as a nursing home.
, the historian and statistician, who was also rector of St. Catherine's
, contracted a fever while ministering to the poor in the hospital and died there in February, 1813.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
on 14 May 1804. The hospital was located in a poor densely-populated part of the Dublin Liberties
The Liberties
The Liberties of Dublin, Ireland were jurisdictions that existed since the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. They were town lands united to the city, but still preserving their own jurisdiction. The most important of these liberties were the Liberty of St...
, though it had large grounds. The objectives of the hospital were to care for the diseased in the neighbourhood and prevent the spread of infection in the homes of the poor.
History
The original hospital consisted of two parallel brick buildings, 80 feet (24.4 m) by 30 feet (9.1 m), three stories high, connected by a colonnade of 116 feet (35.4 m). The eastern range was used for fever, the western for convalescent patients, in order to keep the patients separated. An additional building, much larger than any of the former, was added in 1814, by which the hospital was rendered capable of containing 240 beds.The hospital initially accepted fever patients from five parishes in the Dublin Liberties
The Liberties
The Liberties of Dublin, Ireland were jurisdictions that existed since the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. They were town lands united to the city, but still preserving their own jurisdiction. The most important of these liberties were the Liberty of St...
. A year after its foundation the cachement area was extended to the district south of the river Liffey as far as the South Circular Road
South Circular Road, Dublin
The South Circular Road is a road in Dublin, Ireland, one of the longest in the city. It runs from Kilmainham in the west of the city, through Rialto and Dolphin's Barn to Portobello, near the centre. As it runs mainly through residential areas, it is used by numerous bus routes.-History:Until the...
. By 1810 this was extended to the whole of the city of Dublin, and to all classes of applicants, which increased the financial pressure on the hospital. In the year 1812 over 2,200 patients were admitted. The hospital did succeed in checking the spread of disease, but the worsening unemployment in the Liberties following the Act of Union and occasional epidemics, such as Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is a disease caused by exotoxin released by Streptococcus pyogenes. Once a major cause of death, it is now effectively treated with antibiotics...
, pushed up the mortality rate for the first few years of its existence. However, by 1815 the mortality rate in the hospital had declined to 1 in 20 (from 1 in 11 in 1804).
Dublin had six typhus
Typhus
Epidemic typhus is a form of typhus so named because the disease often causes epidemics following wars and natural disasters...
epidemics in the 18th century – it was not at the time known that typhus was caused by a louse-born organism, which flourished in unhygienic conditions. The hospital was extended in 1817–1819 to help cope with a national epidemic. Three thousand cases were admitted to the hospital in one month in 1818.
Another typhus epidemic hit Dublin in 1826. In the hospital, 10,000 people were treated for the infection. It was so overcrowded that tents were erected in the grounds (fortunately, over 4 acres (1.6 ha) acres in extent), and these provided 400 extra beds. Typhus came again at the time of the Irish Famine. During 1847 nearly 12,000 cases applied during a period of about ten months, although "amongst the poor at their own houses, .. vast numbers remained there, who either could not
be accommodated in hospital, or who never thought of applying". Typhus returned in the 1880s, when Gerard Manley Hopkins
Gerard Manley Hopkins
Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J. was an English poet, Roman Catholic convert, and Jesuit priest, whose posthumous 20th-century fame established him among the leading Victorian poets...
died of the disease in Dublin.
In 1832 Dublin was ravaged by a cholera epidemic. Despite the best efforts of all concerned, thousands of victims died and were hastily buried in nearby Bully's Acre
Bully's Acre, Dublin
Bully's Acre is a former public cemetery located near the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin, Ireland. It is actually in extent.-History:...
.
In 1953 the Cherry Orchard Hospital in Ballyfermot
Ballyfermot
Ballyfermot is a suburb in the city of Dublin.Celebrities such as the famous Furey Brothers and the brilliant Keenan family have all resided in Ballyfermot.Ireland, located 7 kilometres due west from the city centre, and to the south of the Phoenix Park...
replaced the old Cork St. hospital, which was renamed Brú Chaoimhín and used as a nursing home.
Notable physicians
- Patrick Harkan, of Raheen, County Roscommon, came from the Meath HospitalMeath HospitalThe Meath Hospital in Dublin, Ireland was founded in 1753. Situated in the Earl of Meath's Liberty, the hospital was opened to serve the sick and poor in the crowded area of the Liberties in Dublin....
around 1820 and remained in Cork St. for forty years. - Ephraim MacDowel CosgraveEphraim MacDowel CosgraveEphraim MacDowel Cosgrave was an eminent Irish physician, antiquary and writer.-Life:He was born in County Longford, Ireland, son of William Alexander Cosgrave and Maria, daughter of Dr. Ephraim MacDowel....
, from County LongfordCounty LongfordCounty Longford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford.Longford County Council is the local authority for the county... - G. O'Keefe Wilson (in the hospital at the turn of the 20th century).
Notable patients
James WhitelawJames Whitelaw
The Rev. James Whitelaw was an Irish historian, writer, statistician and philanthropist.-Life:He was born in County Leitrim and educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He graduated in 1771. He was ordained in the Church of Ireland and became rector of St. James and then St. Catherine's in Thomas St....
, the historian and statistician, who was also rector of St. Catherine's
St. Catherine's Church, Dublin
St. Catherine's Church, on Thomas Street, in Dublin, Ireland, was originally built in 1185. It is located on what was once termed the "Slí Mór" - a key route that ran westwards across Ireland from Dublin. The church was rebuilt in its present form in the 18th century by John Smyth .The church...
, contracted a fever while ministering to the poor in the hospital and died there in February, 1813.