| Abstrakt: |
The article discusses Ireland's Great Famine from 1845-1852 and examines the causes of death during this period of crisis. The author examines the nutrition of Irish people prior to the famine and compares their diet to those of other countries such as Brazil. The author contends that, prior to the famine, the Irish were well-nourished with a diet that had potatoes and milk at its base. The article discusses the planting of a type of potato from Scotland beginning around 1810, which had the impact of reducing the amount of land farmed for other crops and reduced the availability of milk among lower social classes. Another topic discussed is the medical response to the famine, which the author contends may have contributed to increased deaths by grouping people together in hospital wards. |
