Malta : the nurse of the Mediterranean : a study on hospitals and medical activities in Malta during the Great War

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to provide an analysis of all medical activity which took place in Malta during the Great War. Too often, military historians place too much emphasis on short-term front line action with very little consideration to the logistical aspect of war. Besides the action which takes place on the field of battle, an even longer struggle is endured by those working in military hospitals giving treatment to the hundred os sick and wounded being delivered from the front line. In giving care to casualties, these medical personnel endured long exhaustive shifts with a general shortage of staff. In Malta, a great deal of pressure was suddenly placed on the island after the Gallipoli Campaign inflicted an unexpected high number of casualties. Through a combined effort, the authorities in Malta were able to organise a scheme through which a series of fully equipped hospitals and convalescence camps were opened in a short span of time. Stationed in these facilities, the medical staff operated in an efficient manner to deliver the best road to recovery for every patient. For this reason, I have chosen to dedicate the first chapter to process of which medical facilities were opened in Malta. In this first chapter, a study was made to identify when each hospital was opened and the fluctuation of beds in each. To provide a context, a description of the Gallipoli and Salonika campaigns and their set backs was made to determine the reason as to why Malta became such an active hospital base. For the second chapter, it was necessary to dedicate the entire section for the analyses of the medical staff which were stationed in Malta. In this chapter, the different characteristics of each medical trade was discussed, together with the number of staff present in Malta. To reinforce argument regarding the different medical roles, brief case studies were mentioned, mentioning specific individuals and their experiences in Malta. Lastly, the third and final chapter goes into detail on the medical treatment conducted in Malta. Special emphasis is given to case studies of surgeries which at the time were considered to be revolutionary in the medical field. Another discussed aspect is the new method of treatment for dysentery and malaria, the two dominant diseases treated in Malta, and finally an overview on the mental rehabilitation of convalescent troop through the use of entertainment.