<p>In 1900, the life expectancy in Dublin was a mere 49 years, a stark indicator of the city's dire living conditions. The Victorian city was notorious for its filth and disease, which proved an ideal breeding ground for Typhoid. This episode explores how Dublin battled with this deadly disease for decades.</p><p>This journey takes you through the Victorian sewage system and explains why Dublin's shellfish was lethal.</p><br><p>Based on an interview with Dr. Carly Collier, we uncover the reasons why Typhoid was rampant in Dublin. She details the appalling living conditions of the time, where overcrowding and contaminated food created a minefield of dangers and risks. We also discuss how Typhoid was eventually eradicated. This aspect of the episode begins with 19th-century medical treatments such as bloodletting and progresses to the development of effective vaccines and antibiotics in the 20th century.</p><br><p>To finish what is a fascinating show, we also discuss Ireland's most famous Typhoid patient - Mary Mallon, AKA Typhoid Mary.</p><p>Carly is one of the team behind the Typhoidland exhibition running in the Royal College of Physicians on Kildare Street.</p><br><p>Check out the exhibition:<a href="https://typhoidland.org/exhibitions/dublin-2024/rcpi-exhibition/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://typhoidland.org/exhibitions/dublin-2024/rcpi-exhibition/</a></p><p>Their free audio tour is available to download: <a href="https://typhoidland.org/walking-tour" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://typhoidland.org/walking-tour</a></p><br><p><strong>Subscribe to my new show Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast </strong><a href="https://linktr.ee/transatlanticpod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/transatlanticpod</a></p> <p>Become a member at <a target="_blank" rel="payment" href="https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory">https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory</a>.</p> <br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Irish History Podcast

Fin Dwyer

The Dirtiest City in Europe? Why Did Typhoid Thrive in Victorian Dublin?

OCT 9, 202430 MIN
Irish History Podcast

The Dirtiest City in Europe? Why Did Typhoid Thrive in Victorian Dublin?

OCT 9, 202430 MIN

Description

<p>In 1900, the life expectancy in Dublin was a mere 49 years, a stark indicator of the city's dire living conditions. The Victorian city was notorious for its filth and disease, which proved an ideal breeding ground for Typhoid. This episode explores how Dublin battled with this deadly disease for decades.</p><p>This journey takes you through the Victorian sewage system and explains why Dublin's shellfish was lethal.</p><br><p>Based on an interview with Dr. Carly Collier, we uncover the reasons why Typhoid was rampant in Dublin. She details the appalling living conditions of the time, where overcrowding and contaminated food created a minefield of dangers and risks. We also discuss how Typhoid was eventually eradicated. This aspect of the episode begins with 19th-century medical treatments such as bloodletting and progresses to the development of effective vaccines and antibiotics in the 20th century.</p><br><p>To finish what is a fascinating show, we also discuss Ireland's most famous Typhoid patient - Mary Mallon, AKA Typhoid Mary.</p><p>Carly is one of the team behind the Typhoidland exhibition running in the Royal College of Physicians on Kildare Street.</p><br><p>Check out the exhibition:<a href="https://typhoidland.org/exhibitions/dublin-2024/rcpi-exhibition/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://typhoidland.org/exhibitions/dublin-2024/rcpi-exhibition/</a></p><p>Their free audio tour is available to download: <a href="https://typhoidland.org/walking-tour" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://typhoidland.org/walking-tour</a></p><br><p><strong>Subscribe to my new show Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast </strong><a href="https://linktr.ee/transatlanticpod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/transatlanticpod</a></p> <p>Become a member at <a target="_blank" rel="payment" href="https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory">https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory</a>.</p> <br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>