The following story of the sad death of ten year old James Davies, during the height of the Cholera epidemic in Carmarthen sheds new light on living conditions that had to be endured, especially by those so young. Not only that, but the living conditions that many had to endure was in itself a great hardship that could have been avoided if the necessary precautions, help and support had been put in place by those in authority who had the means to do so. Kidwelly Fach,- (not to be confused with Kidwelly itself- a fine and historic township), was a small but very poor, tight knit community – in an area adjoining the Towy river bank further up from the Quayside close to Dan y Banc, and was described by the local press in the most indescribable and nowadays very offensive terms, provides us with the depth of feeling that existed at the time as to the terrible conditions that had to be endured. Whole families succumbed to the Cholera outbreak within hours of becoming ill, putting huge pressure on St David’s Church and the cemetery. Because St Peters cemetery had closed,St David’s cemetery became the Town cemetery for all burials until the new Town cemetery opened several years later. The following story was published on the 3rd August 1849 (page 2) of the WELSHMAN. Also, at the Coroner’s inquest the Coroner himself refused twice to accept the verdict of the assembled Jury deflecting the responsibility away from those who were truly responsible for the living conditions. May young James, and all those who succumbed to that terrible illness and who are buried here rest in peace. This then is the story as published at the time…
THE SANITARY CONDITION of this town is at present generally satisfactory, mortality being at a lower ebb than usual at this period of the year, although occasional cases of severe diarrhoea become apparent. On Tuesday evening a lad named James Davies, aged 10 years, son of a shoemaker residing in that sink of filth and feculence known as Kidwelly Fach, was attacked with symptoms which were considered indicatory by Mr John Williams, surgeon to the Union, that he he was the subject of severe Asiatic Cholera. On Wednesday morning coma ensued, and at 8 o’clock the same evening the youth expired. The case excited considerable consternation in the town, and the Coroner instantly summoned a jury to ascertain the cause of death. The inquest (having viewed the body,) was adjourned until Thursday at 12 o’clock, when Mr J. Williams and the woman who had attended deceased in his last hours having been examined, (the former of whom gave his decided opinion that the case was one of Asiatic Cholera) the jury were left to decide upon their verdict. After giving two verdicts which the Coroner refused to accept, and in which a reflection was cast upon the parties who allowed the locality of deceased’s residence to be in such a filthy state as it was proved to be, returned a verdict that the “deceased died of cramp in the bowels,” and this was accepted as their opinion. It had previously transpired that deceased had been gathering mushrooms all Tuesday, of which he had eaten a quantity in their raw state, as well as unripe apples, having partaken of very little other food, and that his father and grandmother were suffering from similar symptoms. While on this subject, we may remark that it can hardly be expected that professional gentlemen will gratuitously attend cases whether of diarrhoea or otherwise, and that it is next to impossible that Mr Williams can, single handed, accomplish the herculean task of visiting this description of cases in all the localities in the town, as they require incessant and vigilant attention. It is therefore high time that the Board of Guardians should take up the matter and subdivide the town into districts, appointing to each a paid medical officer. We believe they have this power under the authority of the orders of the General Board of Health and it is highly necessary they should exercise it, for as we have on previous occasions stated, it is not right, nay it is positively wrong, to expect medical men gratuitously to devote their time and talents to the sick poor. To use a homely adage, “It is riding the willing horse to the death”. We trust this subject will be attended to by the Board of Guardians without delay.