Whereas it has become highly expedient to provide for and secure constant attention to the health and comforts of the inhabitants of _Ireland_, and for the prevention of contagious disease, more especially in the cities and great towns thereof; and that for that purpose officers of health should be annually appointed in all cities and large towns, and that such officers should also be appointed in such towns, parishes, and villages in the country, as shall think it proper or necessary to adopt such a measure; be it therefore enacted by the King’s most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That within one calendar month next after the passing of this Act, and within one calendar month after the twenty-fifth day of _March_ in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty, and in every subsequent year, in every city and town in _Ireland_, which shall contain one thousand inhabitants, or upwards; and in every city and large town where the Lord Lieutenant, or other Chief Governor or Governors of _Ireland_, shall think fit to direct that this Act shall be carried into effect, the inhabitant householders of each and every parish in such city or town, assembled in vestry, shall and they are hereby required to elect and appoint any number of persons not less than two, and not more than five, to be officers of health for such parish, for the year ending on the twenty-fifth day of _March_ next after such election, and until new officers of health shall be in like manner appointed for such parish for the year ensuing.