but as
ulcers, which first appear in isolated spots upon the body, enlarge
until, touching each other, they become confluent, so had the famine,
limited in its earlier stages to certain localities, now spread itself
over the entire country. Hence, it is not in any new forms of suffering
amongst the famine-stricken people that its increasing horrors are to be
looked for: it is in its universality, and in the deadly effects of a
new scourge--fever--which was not only manifesting itself throughout the
land at this time, but had already risen to an alarming height--a thing
not to be wondered at, because it is the certain offspring, as well as
the powerful auxiliary, of famine.

In the fall of 1846, several parts of Clare were in a very wretched
condition; but, at the opening of the new year, the most prosperous
localities in that county had been sucked into the great famine vortex.
Writing at this period from Ennis, the chief town, Captain Wynne says:
"The number of those who, from age or exhaustion and infirmity, are
unable to labour, is becoming most alarming; to those the public works
are of no use; they are, no doubt, fit subjects for private charity and
the exertions of relief committees, but it is vain to look to these
sources for relief at all commensurate with the magnitude of the demand.
Deaths are occurring from Famine, and there can be no doubt that the
Famine advances upon us with giant strides." Several of the officials
who had written to Sir Randolph Routh and others, from different parts
of the country, blamed the people for their listlessness, their
idleness, and the little interest they seemed to take in cropping their
land, in order to secure a future supply of food. Addressing himself to
this point, Captain Wynne says: "It is in vain to direct their [the
people's] attention to the prosecution of those agricultural operations
which can alone place any limit to their present deplorable condition.
Agricultural labour holds out a distant prospect of reward--their
present necessities require immediate relief. Such is their state of
alarm and despair at the prospect before them, that they cannot be
induced to look beyond to-morrow; _thousands never expect to see the
harvest_. I must say the majority exhibit a great deal of patience,
meekness, and submission." Again, in the same letter: "The effects of
the Famine are discernible everywhere: not a domestic animal to be
seen--pigs and poultry have quite disappeare