Medical History of Malta

It seems surprising that the medical history of an island which is of about the same area as the Isle of Wight can justifiably be extended to 586 large pages. This splendidly produced volume however contains little that is irrelevant, covering as it does in considerable detail the early history-which is similar to that which would be applicable to most parts of the Mediterranean basin-the pattern of disease in Malta, its hospitals, the evolution of Public Health and the social services, medical education, and a final section on the impact of the two World Wars. It is the fruit of many years of devoted work by Dr. Paul Cassar in the library of the Royal University of Malta, and much of the material which he quotes remains unpublished in its archives. Perhaps the most fascinating sections to the average medical historian will be those in which he deals with the heroic epoch of the Sovereign Knights of Malta who ruled from 1530-1798. The Order of Knights Hospitaller, as it was originally called, was founded by Pope Paschall II during the time of the Crusades to administer and guard the primitive hospital which had been founded in Jerusalem by certain generous merchants of Amalfi to care for the Christian sick and destitute. Thus the Order received a dual role as a militant body whose resources became increasingly employed against the power of Islam, and the objective which it continues to pursue today, the relief of suffering. When in 1310 it moved to the island of Rhodes a new hospital was built which was far superior to any to be found elsewhere in Europe. It was beautifully designed, the beds were of iron, adequately spaced, and, what was rare at that time, each contained only one patient. Both the physician and surgeon in charge made a round of the Wards every morning and evening accompanied by the apothecary. The patients could now be of any religion, race or colour. In 1530 the Order moved to Malta, and after surviving the great siege of 1565 they built the city of Valletta in joyful thanksgiving for the valour and wisdom of their great grandmaster Le Valette. Their new Holy Infirmary of Santo Spirito was even more splendid than the previous one, the chief Ward being five hundred feet long, with an high altar at one end. Each patient's bed was provided with a locker …