Clifden Poor Law Union, Minute Book, 1862-1863

Includes:

-‘Mary Finnegan a violent and dangerous lunatic was admitted into the workhouse on the 1^st. As there is no ward in the workhouse for properly securing and treating lunatics I would recommend that information be taken against the woman and have her committed to jail, in the meantime I have confined in the female probationary ward in charge of two women’ (p107).

-‘Seven women with illegitimate children are directed to be discharged on next Petty Session day with a view to their appearing before the Magistrate and making affirmation as to the Fathers of their children’ (p151).

-‘Resolved - In accepting Dr Jordan’s resignation of his situation of Assistant Medical Attendant for the islands of Inishboffin and Shark we have much pleasure in bearing our testimony to the very efficient and successful manner in which he had discharged his duties to the unanimous (blank) and the great satisfaction which he has given to the Board and the ratepayers in general.  We are gratified to find that he has obtained a highly respectable and we trust a remunerative appointment elsewhere’ (p169).

-Resolution from the Clifden Dispensary Committee stating ‘That we are of opinion that a resident Medical Officer is necessary in the Islands of Inishbofin and Shark [Inishark] at a moderate salary’ (p289).

-‘Read letter from Mr Con King, Relieving Officer, stating that in accordance with the directions of the Board he visited the Island Inishbofin on the 12^th inst, went carefully through the Island visiting all the families likely to be in want of food, 8 families were supplied with provisional relief and several others to whom he gave provisional tickets of admission to the workhouse, all of whom refused to avail themselves of such relief.
The state of the Island is healthy and he learned from the Medical Officer that there is no epidemic disease.  It is probably the distress will be much felt from the next few months and will require a resident Relieving Officer on the island, there is nothing in the way of bread, rice or necessaries for the sick on the island’ (p429).

-‘There are at present 23 cases of fever in the workhouse fever hospital, the greater number of these have been admitted from the Town of Clifden and neighbourhood and as fever seems disposed to spread no doubt there will be many new cases seeking admission.
It will be therefore necessary for the proper treatment of the pauper patients to have the hospital in the most efficient state possible.  It will be necessary to procure a proper supply of sheeting of which there is a short supply also all other necessaries such as straw bedding etc.  The fever is as yet of a mild type and there have been no deaths but it is impossible to say how long this may continue, but to ensure it as much as possible no means within our reach should be omitted’ (18 Mar 1863, pp487-8).