Cholera Map of Ireland, 1866

Last week the RCPI archival collections were enriched by the return a cholera map of Ireland in 1866, pictured above. This large and visually impressive map, measuring 130cm X 110cm, has recently been restored by a professional conservator, Louise Walsworth-Bell.

Prior to treatment the map was in poor condition, difficult to read, and therefore unfit for consultation by readers. A range of problems were apparent, such as extensive cracking, torn fragments, loss of varnish and exposed linen. Interventions such as thorough cleaning, flattening and repair works have restored the map to close to its original state, and made it accessible again.

So what is the map about? It was produced by Dr Samuel Haughton (1821-1897), a Fellow of the College of Physicians, to demonstrate the spread of Asiatic cholera in Ireland in 1866. An smaller image of the map was reproduced in Haughton's article 'A scientific inquiry into some of the causes alleged to produce Asiatic cholera', published in the London Medical Times and Gazette in 1867. In this article Haughton argued that cholera travels 'along the lines of human traffic, and improves its rate of locomotion as the facilities of human intercourse improve'.

The lines on the map call to mind the railway network which had been developed in Ireland in the mid 1800s. Haughton used such imagery to demonstrate his contact theory on the course of the cholera in Ireland, and its progressive appearance at various points. In his article, Haughton explains the numbers on the map as follows:

I. Dublin - this city received its first case of cholera in the person of a young woman named Magee, who imported the disease from Liverpool into No. 22, City Quay, from which point it spread all over Dublin and the suburban towns, 'destroying in six months 1193 persons'.

II. The towns of the second grade are Belfast, Dundalk, Drogheda, and Wexford. Of these towns, the first three imported their cholera directly, by sea from Liverpool, and the fourth town, Wexford, received its cholera, by sea, from Cardiff, in South Wales.

III. The towns of the third grade are Mountmellick, Athy, Mallow, Westport, Sallins, and Limerick. In all these cases there was distinct evidence of the importation of cholera, either from Dublin or directly from Liverpool.

Cholera was introduced into the neighborhood of Athy, and into Mallow, directly from Liverpool ; and its entrance into Westport was traced by those residing in the neighborhood to importation from Liverpool.

IV. The towns of the fourth grade are Arklow, Carrick-on-Shannon, Longford, and Athlone.

V. The towns of the fifth grade are Carlow, Roscommon, and Clonmel. Haughton traced the introduction of cholera into Carlow to a case imported from Dublin.

VI. The towns of the sixth grade are Cork and Ballinasloe. Cork was threatened, early in the season of pestilence, by the arrival of the Helvetia off the harbour, crowded with German emigrants, among whom cholera had broken out. The Helvetia was ordered back to Liverpool, and imported the disease into that town, from which place it was subsequently introduced into Cork. Ballinasloe received its cholera from Drogheda.

VII. The towns of the seventh grade are Clones and Newbridge. Cholera was introduced into Clones from Dundalk, and into Newbridge from Dublin.

VIII. Tralee.

IX. Mullingar and Parsonstown [now Birr, County Offaly]. Parsonstown received its cholera by importation direct from Sheffield, in England ; and this town and Wexford are the only places in Ireland that received cholera from any other centre than Liverpool directly or indirectly.

X. Wicklow and Portaferry. The cholera was introduced into Portaferry, as shown on the map, by a herring boat from Balbriggan, and not from Belfast as might be supposed.

XI. Kilrush and Bantry.

Haughton’s cholera map is catalogued under the reference number MS/95, and is available to consult in RCPI Heritage Centre. 

Fergus Brady,

Project Archivist