A Dublin observer of the Lisbon yellow fever epidemic.

The history of yellow fever is discussed with relevance to the Lisbon epidemic of 1857. Robert S.D. Lyons, professor of medicine at the Catholic University Medical School in Dublin, was given leave by the rector to investigate its pathology and set off for Portugal in November. He performed autopsies and studied possible environmental factors, with negative results. The professor's "prolonged absence" began to worry the rector in January but, before long, Dr Lyons returned to his duties and published a report.