CH.V.] SICK POOR. 175 



CHAPTER V. 



SICK POOR. 



Province of Connaught, county of Galway; examinations taken by F. Dig- 

 gens, Esq., and W. T. M' CullagJi, Esq. ; parish of Omagh, barony of 

 Ballynahinch. Nineteen witnesses. 



THAT the extent of disease, and the consequences attend- 

 ant thereon, might the more accurately be ascertained, 

 the Commissioners selected the townland of Clifden, as 

 being best known by the witnesses present. The popula- 

 tion of the townland is about 1400. 



Thomas Connelly, a butcher, had six children. About 

 four months ago he took a fever and died, after a few days' 

 illness ; his wife and four children were attacked with the 

 same disease, and during six or eight weeks some one of 

 the family was ill. There were two collections made for 

 their support : to these collections the labourers and trades- 

 men, subscribed a good deal : they got soup, milk, and 

 sometimes a bit of meat, from the neighbours during their 

 illness. 



Another inhabitant was ill for fifteen days with a bowel 

 complaint : during his illness he was supported by his 

 neighbours ; he died of the complaint. 



The wife of a shoemaker was ill of fever about five 

 weeks ago ; four of her children had it, one of whom died. 

 The husband attended his family all throughout. 



One witness said that he was ill about six weeks ; he 

 had pledged what he possessed, and to recover his pro- 

 perty would require at least a year's work. 





