Medicine and Charity in Ireland 1718-1851

The book explores the intertwined relationship between illness and poverty in Ireland from 1718 to the aftermath of the Great Famine. It highlights how rapid population growth and the potato blight exacerbated health crises, leading to one million deaths from starvation and disease. The evolution of medical and charitable services is traced, including the establishment of voluntary hospitals and county infirmaries, which initially had an Anglican bias. Following Catholic emancipation in 1829, the book critiques the nepotism and sectarianism within these organizations and discusses significant legislative changes, including the 1831 Medical Charities Act.