Sir Themistocles Zammit : his medical and scientific career

Abstract

Soon after graduation, Zammit and a colleague founded a review journal for which he prepared most of the abstracts, thus keeping up with recent literature of bacteriology. On appointment as Bacteriologist, he visited eminent practitioners in Paris and london. Based in Valletta, he became active in the local branch of the BMA, becoming Secretary and meeting senior British service doctors as well as young recent graduates. His first papers were based on his work and his early interest in brucellosis resulted in a slide test. Because of his interest in insects, he began corresponding with scientists in Britain. When the Mediterranean Fever Commission was formed, he was an obvious choice as his work was already known to Colonel Bruce FRS. At first he believed that transmission of brucellosis might be made by mosquitoes. However, he infected two goars and noted their continued inapparent infection and showed the presence of bacteria in their rine, blood and milk. Bruce and Horrocks did not wish him to continue with this experiment, but he persuaded them to allow him to buy a further six goats. He tested the goats and found that they were probably the source of infection through their milk. He devised a test for the bacteria in milk and continued research into the disease. He made significant contributions to other aspects of medicine in Malta. He was Professor of Chemistry, a lecturer to naval surgeons and a world renowned archaeologist. Later he was Rector of the University of Malta.