The history of medicine in Malta

Abstract

This work is based on a lecture on the medical history of Malta which I gave earlier this year (2016) at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta. When Dr. Alfred Bonnici asked me to contribute an article on this subject, with a philatelic format, to be published in the Journal of the Malta Philatelic Society of which he is President, and which this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary, I felt honoured to do so, but also rather concerned whether I would find enough philatelic material to illustrate this work. However when I browsed through my vast collection of stamps relating to the history of medicine in general (which has been my hobby for many years) I was pleasantly surprised how much excellent medical philatelic material has been offered by the local Malta Post. Most of these stamps are of the highest visual and artistic quality which I felt would enhance this article. Where no philatelic material was available I have used relevant historical illustrations. The recorded history of medicine in the Maltese islands is essentially tied to the advent of the Order of St John of Jerusalem during whose tenure the practice of medicine reached great heights. Before then there are few or no records of the health status of the local population. And yet there were hundreds of people living on these islands. I have ventured some theories as to what could have been the medical status in those distant times. I have also emphasised that the practice of medicine in the Maltese islands cannot be considered parochially but in the ambit of a much wider European influence and I have given some examples to illustrate this fact. Stamp collecting is educational like no other hobby. It teaches geography, history, art and graphics, among others. It is therapy for everyone- old and young. It is a pity that our young people are so absorbed by electronic devises that this hobby, like the reading of books, has suffered considerably. However there is still hope and stamp collecting still has more adherents than any other pastime hobby. One need not necessarily be a philatelic specialist although this is in itself a highly challenging hobby. There are hundreds of themes one can focus on, ranging from birds and butterflies to outer space. Hopefully this contribution on the medical history of Malta might stimulate others to start their own thematic collection.