42

Looking Backwards THE PLAGUE EPIDEM;C OF 1675 - 1676

SAVIOUR PISANI M.D.

The epidemic began on the 24th De­ port to the isolation hospital of all af­ cember, 1675 when one of the daughters fected persons and infected objects. of a certain merchant from Another result of this meeting was the named Matteo Bonnici, was afflicted by appointment of four Knights Grand a strange disease the chief characteristics Crosses to aCL as Plague Commissioners. of which were its acuteness, red petechial To these officers was given absolute haemorrhages and the enlarged lymph power to safeguard the public and "the nodes in the right groin. The suspicions Religion", as the order of St. John was of the family doctor, Dr. Cassia, were customarily referred to. A tribunal met quickly aroused and he immediately in­ in the Chancellery twice daily - in the formed the protomedicus, Dr. Domenico morning from 6 to 10 and in the after­ Sciberras. The death of the young girl noon from 3 to 5. on the seventh day of her illness was This tribunal was responsible for col­ followed by the illness of a broi:her and lecting news about the plague and for of a slave who developed a swelling in providing the needy with all requirements. the groin. Up to then the disease was To the four Knights Grand Crosses were being considered as a simple acute febrile added two Counts and the usual com­ illness, until another sister fell ill being missioners for public health. The counts covered with petechial haemorrhages and and the Public Health officials were des­ showing enlarged lymph nodes in her cribed as men of great skill. Their duties armpits. The girl died after four days. were to see that the orders given by the Consequently under pressure from the Knights Grand Crosses were obeyed and general public the authorities closed the to distribute alms when necessary. Two merchant's house together with that of other Commissioners were later added to a soldier relative of the family who had supervise the transport of the diseased a daughter who had died with swollen from their villages. lymph nodes. The virulence of the disease increased Still, it seemed that the closure of the rapidly so that even men commissioned two houses was not enough, for cases to combat the disease contracted the in­ began to appear everywhere whose main fection and died of it. All measures de­ characteristics were enlarged lymph signed to limit the spread of the illness nodes, papules and petechial haemor­ were proving ineffective and, as the rhages. At this si:age the Protomedicus disease progressed, more drastic measures began to reconsider his position. There­ began to be put into effect. The number fore on the 28th January, 1676, a meet­ of Public H~alth officers and isolation ing of the health authorities was held in hospitals was doubled and all suspected secret, not to alarm the people, at which and infected houses were closed. Doctors it was concluded that plague had pro­ who willingly or through negligence failed bably appeared in the island. Therefore to report cases were severely punished. the protomedicus recommended the trans- A number of gallows were erected to deal 43 with people who disobeyed orders. To medical men were thinking in terms of set an example three men were hanged. plague others believed the island was The course of the disease appeared to being visited only by a high febrile ill­ be variable for after the phase of acute ness. Therefore foreign OpInIOn was viru:ence a milder phase appeared and it asked for. Five physicians, from Mar­ seemed that the efforts of the Public seilles, Rome, Florence, Valencia, Paris Health authorities were bearing fruit. and Naples respectively were of the However, a nsw phase of acute virulence opinion that the island was affected with was heralded by the death of a child at plague. Fort St. Angelo when the disease began After the triumph of the first school of to spread throughout the three cities, thought measures were made even more first in Vittoriosa and then on rigorous. Therefore the use of Holy to and to the country. The Water was prohibited, and gatherings in familiar features of the disease reap­ churches, squares, hotels and streets were peared, namely the haemorrhages and the made illegal. The isolation hospHals buboes so that the protomedicus was were enlarged, barricades were const­ constrained to declare the island to be ructed and finally the city was closed. infected and accept international quaran­ tine measures. Three surgeons were called to Malta, On the 26th February the special com­ one a Neapolitan and two French, the mittee met again. In this meeting the first on the 29th May, the second on the Grand Master promised that everything 9th June. All of them had had great ex­ necessary, both as regards medical and perience of plague. The Italian was a general help, would be provided to the volunteer who worked day and night island which was then in a state of chaos. with the sick. The other two came from Some people were thinking that the Marseilles and were given travelling ex­ measures taken were sufficient while penses, free board and lodging and 700 others were thinking that· they were not French pounds a month each. All agreed severe enough. The opinion of the latter with the measures taken by the Public prevailed so that more vigorous measures Health authorities in isolating the sick were taken. and those suspected of being so. In all From the 24th March the movements 116 "barracks" were constructed on the of the people were very rigorously res­ shores of Marsamxett to house those tr3.ined while the diseased and the sus­ suspected of being ill. pected were totally isolated from the The galleys, were provided for by de­ community. The people of the Mandragg, positing the food and other necessities in the "Archipelago" and French Street - a special place known as the Ristello della regions very severely affected - were Marina from where it was taken by the told not to leave their houses. The Com­ sailors. At night the ships had to anchor mISSIOners saw to it that butchers, two to three miles out at sea until break cheesemongers, bakers, etc. were avail­ of day, a guard being provided all the able to give proper service to these people time on the prow and on the poop of shut in their homes. The order was re­ the ship. pealed on the 16th June. Another order On the death of a diseased person the prohibited barbers from cutting the hair Public Health authorities had to be in­ of the sick and of relatives of people who formed. These were responsible for giving had died of the disease. the order for burial to the grave diggers The plague was proving to be a very and undertakers. The dead were buried heavy burden on the community. There­ in common graves which were situated fore it was not surprising that certain in places recommended by the medical quarters began to question whether such profession. The grave-diggers were res­ vigorous measures were necessary. At ponsible for beating the earth down very this stage the Maltese School of Medicine thoroughly. After the disappearance of was still not decided and while some the plague the graves were sprayed with 44 scent and their invironments kept absolu­ Table I. Number of deaths tely clean. (Estimated population: 60,000) Meanwhile, and remained free from the disease. After the first in­ vasion by families from Valletta, the Men Women Total Capitano della Verga closed the city, so that by the middle of April it was isolated from the whole island. The Captain I Valletta 757 1300 2057 provided a door and a guard of four men I to guard it and used to supervise it him­ Vittoriosa 727 1063 1790 self. Food was deposited near the gate. Travel to Gozo was also discouraged. A Senglea -- 1885 commISSIOn was responsible for the si:orage of grain and of wheat and a small Cospicua 511 809 1320 ship was used to carry supplies and to bring news. Qorrni 122 187 309 The last phase of the illness was heralded by an extensive spread after a Zebbug 74 95 169 relatively quiet period. The island was now on the verge of despair. All that was humanly possible had been done and Zabbar 102 168 270 now panic began to appear. Some peo­ ple went to live near the sea, nobody Other places -- 932 daring to approach the cities. There was a phase of religious revival. Everybody Total - - 8732 recited prayers and performed penance. I The Blessed Sacrament and holy relics

Table 2. Number of "Illustrious persons" who died of the plague .r Valletta Senglea Vittoriosa Cospicua Villages

Knights Grand Crosses 1 - - --

Knights 8 - -- Parish Priests 7 1 1 - 1 Canons 1 - --

Priests 23 18 37 7 10

Monks 21 - 8(1) 4 1 Physicians 3 1 2 - 3

Surgeons 1 6 4 - , -

(1) All Dominicans 45 were exposed for special veneration. The Burial grounds used during the epidemic: Grand Master seing the plight of his peo­ ple paid frequent visits to the affected Valletta: Manoel Island areas both in the cities and in the country Vittoriosa: Il-Hisieli distributing alms and trying to help the Cospicua: Outside the fortifications needy. Senglea: Ditto The Commissioners' meeting on the : Village cemetery 14th June came to the conclusion that : Village cemetery there were enough medical supplies in : Vilage cemetery. Later closed. the island. By the 27th August the Zurrieq: Disused church of St. Thomas disease seemed to be over at last. The : Disused church of St. Giacione happy people now began to clean up the Rabat: Disused church of St. Mark island by getting rid of all rubble and : Don Martino Vella's Church waste material. All joined in thanks­ Bubaqra: Disused church of St. Nicholas giving to God. : St. Michael's Church On the 24th September, 1676 the final St. Angelo: Ditch disappearance of the plague was publicly celebrated by the firing of guns and the ringing of bells. A Te Deum was sung Isolation Hospitals and a most splendid procession was made. used during the epidemic: The isolation hospitals were closed, the barricades removed and the gentlemen of Valletta: Manoel Island the Public Health were very generously Vittoriosa: Magazine near the "Manderag- rewarded and praised throughout the gio" island. Senglea: Quarters of St. Philip. Cospicua: Quarters of St. Paul. (From manuscript 6402 of the Royal Birkirkara: The Captain's Tower. Malta Library) Attard: Giacomo Muscat's Palace. Gudja: House. : the house of Gio Domenico Sciriha and Vincenzo Abela. Rabat: Hal Bajjad. Kirkop: Ta' Galea's House.