The control of pharmaceutical supplies in the Navy of the Order of St. John in Malta

Abstract

I have elsewhere dealt with the organization of the naval medical service of the Order of St. John while in Malta and with the various duties of the professional personnel afloat. The ship's crew usually consisted of 30 to 35 knights and 200 soldiers besides technical officers, artificers and mariners; and some 340 oarsmen who were either slaves, convicts or mercenaries known as buonavoglie. The need of having medical men on board to look after the health of this mass of men - approaching the 500 to 600 mark - was duly recognised by the Order; in fact a medical team consisting of a physician; a surgeon and sometimes an assistant surgeon and a barber-surgeon, formed part of the ship's company.