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Hi listmates.

I received a lot of requests for a summary of my findings but almost no
responces about any research into whether Celiac disease was a
contributing factor into the death rate in the famine of 1845.  I have
one more source to check but another writer recommended a terrrific web
site with basic information about the famine.
http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional /Countries/Ireland/Arts_and_Humanities/
Humanities/History/By_Time_Period/19th _Century/Great_Famine_The/ I
attended the library and did some research.  I found a lot of
information that strongly suggested that if the British had continued to
suply corn instead of the soup the death toll would have been much
lower. "The soup ran straight through the people." "The people kept
their doors and windows open even in winter because the smell was so
oppressive."

Another source is a book by Donald MacKay called Flight From Famine.  He
recounts an experiment done by the British.  In the 1820's 500 and later
1500 of the poorist  Roman Catholic farmers were brought to Canada from
Southern Ireland. The were given land, instruction on tree cutting,
instruction on building with logs, and large amounts of wheat and oats,
for one year.  During that year 1/3 of the people were seriously ill.
Many died of disease.  The people believed there was a disease in the
forest and once the first crop was harvested the disease left.  (The
first crop was potatoes and turnips.)  The people frequently traded
their food stores for rum.  This upset the British and the experiment
was stopped.

I am suspicious that since they gave the rum to the children as well
that they were using it as a medicine.

I would love to hear if anyone finds anything else.

Patricia