William Butler Years was born 150 years ago today in Sandymount, Dublin. Yeats was to become an internationally recognised Irish poet, playwright, author and one of the most influential figures of 20th century literature. Throughout his life he suffered illnesses including fever, pneumonia and a broken heart from his unrequited love of Maud Gonne.
Yeats and Oliver St. John Gogarty were close friends despite their age difference. They wrote to each other, attended various literary and political gatherings across the globe and sat in the Senate together. Gogarty was not only interested in literature he was a highly qualified surgeon. When Yeats fell ill at the end of 1929 his fever charts were passed to Gogarty, who confirmed the seriousness of Yeats illness. These fever charts were donated to the RCSI Heritage Collections by Prof. J.B. Lyons many years ago and can be seen below
In Prof. Lyons book Thrust Syphilis down to Hell and other Rejoyceana (Dublin, 1988) he explains what is happening at this time to Yeats and how a Dr. Pende visits the patient on 22 January. Pende's name can be seen jotted above that date on the chart above.
'A diagnosis of Malta fever (brucellosis) was made by a consultant. Dr. Pende of Genoa, who visited the poet on 22 January. Serum injections and arsenic were prescribed and a half bottle of champagne daily recommended. The infection could have been acquired from contaminated milk in Galway but with hindsight Pende's diagnosis must be viewed sceptically. Yeats coughed blood in London on November 1929 and may have developed a low-grade suppurative pneumonia.'
- Thrust Syphilis down to Hell and other Rejoyceana (Dublin, 1988) pg. 197
Yeats beat off this fever and went on to live another 10 years, passing away in France on 28 January 1939. These charts are unique as they present a small window into the life and ill health of one of Ireland's greatest literary writers.
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy
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| W.B. Yeats and Oliver St. John Gogarty in Dublin in 1924 taken from The New York Times March 1964 |
Yeats and Oliver St. John Gogarty were close friends despite their age difference. They wrote to each other, attended various literary and political gatherings across the globe and sat in the Senate together. Gogarty was not only interested in literature he was a highly qualified surgeon. When Yeats fell ill at the end of 1929 his fever charts were passed to Gogarty, who confirmed the seriousness of Yeats illness. These fever charts were donated to the RCSI Heritage Collections by Prof. J.B. Lyons many years ago and can be seen below
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| This chart is dated 4 to 24 December 1929 and shows Yeats' temperature as it peaks and troughs during a fever |
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| This chart continues from the one above, starting 25 December and running until 14 January 1930 |
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| The chart starts 15 but end 24 January 1930 with the note 'Four hourly chart started' |
In Prof. Lyons book Thrust Syphilis down to Hell and other Rejoyceana (Dublin, 1988) he explains what is happening at this time to Yeats and how a Dr. Pende visits the patient on 22 January. Pende's name can be seen jotted above that date on the chart above.
'A diagnosis of Malta fever (brucellosis) was made by a consultant. Dr. Pende of Genoa, who visited the poet on 22 January. Serum injections and arsenic were prescribed and a half bottle of champagne daily recommended. The infection could have been acquired from contaminated milk in Galway but with hindsight Pende's diagnosis must be viewed sceptically. Yeats coughed blood in London on November 1929 and may have developed a low-grade suppurative pneumonia.'
- Thrust Syphilis down to Hell and other Rejoyceana (Dublin, 1988) pg. 197
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| Above is Yeats' chart dated end of January 1930 and the times arsenic were administered can be seen written along the top |
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| The final chart dated from 1 to 7 February when Yeats temperature stabilises |
Yeats beat off this fever and went on to live another 10 years, passing away in France on 28 January 1939. These charts are unique as they present a small window into the life and ill health of one of Ireland's greatest literary writers.
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy