The Malta Independent on Sunday
The Cholera Morbus epidemic of 1837
“By means of a Minute dated 19 June 1837, the Governor of Malta, Sir Bouverie announced for the information of the public that the malady bearing every symptom of Cholera had made its appearance in the ospizio or asylum for the aged and indigent at Floriana on 9 June 1837 and continued to attack the persons, who were the inmates of that establishment, notwithstanding their removal to Fort Ricasoli.”
Cholera is speedily converted from a traceable and curable disease to a fatal one. Interestingly, one of the measures to contain Cholera in 1837, which the local purposely set-up Central Committee for the Supervision of Cases of Cholera suggested, was that practitioners of each town and village would implement ‘the most rigorous and anxious enquiries to discover those who may be threatened with some premonition of Cholera and not wait to be sent for’. This two-part feature in the form of a study-paper examines the various measures taken by the authorities of the day to control the spread of disease, how it spread and the day-to-day reporting of cases. In many ways, it is noted that the reporting of cases and preventive measures have much in common with the present-day Covid-19 pandemic.
The 19th century is a period known for the outbreak of the plague and Cholera pandemics. The plague of 1813 had broken out in Costantinople and extended its ravages over the Mediterranean basis. The death of the daughter of a shoemaker, living in Sda. St Ursola (now, St Ursola Street), Valletta was the first case registered with a rapid rise in mortality leaving over 4,000 dead in its wake.
The first Cholera pandemic was registered during the period 1817-24. The disease brought devastation in all of Europe, including Malta when it reached the Island in June 1837 up till 11 October of the same year.
At one stage, it was reported locally, that when Cholera raged at Gibraltar in 1834 not a single medical man (though the majority of that class was greatly exhausted in the zealous charge of the most laborious duties) fell a victim to the disease nor were the clergy men of any persuasion attacked. At the time the debate was whether and how the disease was contagious as it was argued that only the old, poor and destitute could contract the disease.
Malta was under the Governorship of Sir Henry Fredrick Bouverie (1836-1843), a veteran of the Napoleonic wars. He was described as a refined, amiable man by his royal guest George, Duke of Cambridge. Known also for his qualities as a man of action who knew what he wanted and how to get it. He saw things very clearly and, having arrived at a deision, took up a line of action leading right to the goal. These qualities were a Godsend as the following year, after his appointment in 1836, his leadership was required to admister the Island in the face of the Cholera that visited Malta and Gozo.
Appearance of first Cholera case
By means of a Minute dated 19 June 1837, the Governor of Malta, Sir Bouverie announced for the information of the public that the malady bearing every symptom of Cholera had made its appearance in the ospizio or asylum for the aged and indigent at Floriana on 9 June 1837 and continued to attack the persons, who were the inmates of that establishment, notwithstanding their removal to Fort Ricasoli.
The Governor attached a return of the cases of Cholera from its first appearance up to the date of his Minute.
With the exception of six of the individuals (three of whom were soldiers) included in his return, and three of whom were dead, the disease had been almost exclusively confined to the aged and infirm persons.
The Governor asked that official returns of cases of the disease were to be transmitted from every part of the Island to the Police physician and were to be then referred by the Governor to a Committee who would be able to frame their reports thereupon and transmit the same to government with any other information they may have.
Appointment of committee
The Central Committee for the supervision of cases of Cholera was composed of the following persons:
• Count Baldassare Sant – president
• Baron Vincenzo Azopardi
• Giuseppe Gauci Azopardi
• Dr Clarke – assistant inspector of Hospitals
• Dr Luigi Gravagna – Police physician
• Dr Liddell – physician to the Naval Hospital
• Nicholas Nugent – treasurer to government
• George Ward – secretary
Initial spread of Cholera
Since the commencement of the disease on 9 June up to 19 June, a Minute by the Governor of 19 June revealed 298 new cases recorded with a total of 200 dead and eight recoveries.
The secretary continued to provide daily updates with cases initially being reported from the following areas for the week ending 20 June 1837:
• Ospizio
• Ricasoli
• Valletta
• Senglea
• Lazzaretto
• Quarantine Port
• Three cases on a ship which arrived from Palermo
• Fort Manoel
• Military Hospital
Gradually, as reports arrived on a daily basis, the Cholera was seen to infect more towns and villages.
For instance the daily report of 28 June 1837 showed new cases from Birkirkara, Floriana, Vittoriosa and Cospicua. The gravity of the siutation prompted the setting up of hospitals in Valletta and Senglea to cater for cases from these areas. Also dispensaries were opened at night in Valletta; the owners of which were Dr Fenech and Dr Duclos in Republic Street (then, Strada Reale).
The following day’s report revealed that two new cases emerged from naval bakeries and one new case on board the H.M.S Hermes. Moreover, the spread of the disease had by now reached Ħal-Lija and ĦalGhaxaq. Fourteen new cases were also reported at the mental asylum. The situation necessitated the opening of more dispensaries, which were also opened by night in Valletta, Floriana, Cospicua, Senglea and Vittoriosa.
By 5 July 1837, Cholera had reached other towns and villages – Ħaż-Żebbug, Qormi, Sliema Rabat, Tarxien, Siġġiewi and Gudja were the next victims. On 6 July, new cases were also reported in Ħal-Luqa, Żurrieq, ĦalSafi, Naxxar, St Julian’s and Sliema, while the next day new cases emerged from Ħat-Attard. Mqabba became the next village to report its first case on 9 July.
By 14 July, the balance for cases carried forward from previous reports was standing at 981 cases with 346 new cases, 125 deaths, 84 recoveries and a total balance of active cases of 1,118 cases.
On 16 July a new case was reported in Ħal-Chircop village.
Gozo
On 17 July, Gozo’s Cholera incidence position was as follows:
Active Cases from last report 24
New Cases 16
Deaths 7
Recovered 2
Total remaining active cases 31
A call for help
On 20 June 1837 a Government Notice was published whereby, on the recommendation of the Central Committee for the supervision of cases of Cholera, the Governor invited all medical men “who may be desirous of affording their professional assistance under existing circumstances to communicate without loss of time their names and residence to the Committee”.
Remuneration was offered on pecuniary terms by government for all such assistance. The Governor ended his notice by saying that he was persuaded that this call would find a good response in mitigating “the unavoidable evils of the impending disease”.
An expression of displeasure
Surprisingly, the following day, by means of a Minute dated 21 June, the Governor stated that he had learned, with no less surprise than regret, that several individuals, and among them some few Maltese medical practitioners had industriously circulated their opinions that the partial epidemic, which had visited the Island, is of a decidedly contagious nature. The Governor reiterated that a more cruel and unfounded doctrine cannot be promulgated; a doctrine opposed to the solemn decision of the eminent medical men collectively and individually, in the civilized world.
He also expressed his astonishment that these unpractised persons should presume to set up their unauthorised opinions, on an occasion of such vital importance, in opposition to such high and unquestionable authority. He ended his note by stating that: “The persistence therefore in such conduct on the part of those in employment of government, will immediately draw upon them the highest displeasure of His Excellency and will operate as a disqualification for those who may hereafter become candidates for public situations.”
Cholera cases in the Regiminets of Malta
A total of 269 cases with 58 deaths and 191 recoveries were reported between 17 June up to 18 July 1837 in Regiments of Malta. Twenty cases were still active on 18 July. A total of nine children were also infected and are included in these figures.
To be continued next week