Pharmacy in Malta in the Nineteenth Century
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As the fi rst two conditions were not met, Britain did ARTICLE not withdraw her troops from the Maltese islands. On 14 May 1801, Mr C. Cameron was appointed Civil Pharmacy in Malta in the nineteenth Commissioner of the Islands of Malta and Gozo by the century authorities in Britain, but it took fourteen years of fur- ther dispute with France, Russia, and other European John Joseph Borg nations before Malta was fi nally recognised as a British colony.3 Abstract When the Maltese Islands came under British control Laws regulating pharmacy in the nineteenth century in 1800s pharmacy was already well established as an On occupying Malta, the British found that a legal sys- independent profession following several centuries of tem governing pharmacy was already in existence. In rule by the Knights of the Order of St John. Th is article Britain no legislation had been enacted prior to the describes the transition of pharmacy practice and edu- 1800s, and as the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Brit- cation during the course of the nineteenth century. In ain had not yet been established, the civil government hospital dispensaries pharmacists had a wide range of of that time opted to implement the laws used by the duties although their status in relation to doctors was Order of St John of Jerusalem right up to 1900, when slowly eroded during the period of British rule. Retail the Sanitary Ordinance regulating the practice of phar- pharmacies were originally based on Italian lines, but macy was drawn up. with British occupation increasing numbers of English- Gradually, the colonial authorities on the island is- style pharmacies appeared, and the number of propri- sued Ordinances concerning the pharmacy profession. etary medicines increased. British pharmacy has had a Th e governor, Th omas Maitland, issued the fi rst Proc- far-reaching and lasting impact on the practice of phar- lamation in 1814; this stated that all pharmacists, in macy in Malta. order to practise their profession, should possess a cer- tifi cate signed by the ‘Protomedico’ (the most senior British control of Malta Maltese doctor on the island).4 In 1816, an Order to On 5 September 1800, the French Garrison in Malta regulate weights and measures was enacted. Th is stated capitulated after a twelve-month blockade in the three that ‘All the weights, scales and measures in Mdina, cities and Valletta. Articles of Capitulation were signed Rabat and Dingli, shall be forthwith called in by the by Vaubois (General of the French Division) and Rear- Jurats [magistrates] of the Four Cities, in order to ex- Admiral Villeneuve (commander of the French Marine amine and re-stamp them if found according to law. on Malta) on the French side; and by Major-General Th e said operation shall take place at Mdina’. All defec- Pigot (commander of the British troops) and Captain tive weights, scales and measures were to be forfeited Martin (commander of the British Squadron during the and destroyed.5 blockade) on the British side.1 Th e Temporary Revolu- In 1827, another law which dealt with the issue of tionary Government which had been set up during the language aff ected pharmacists. Th is stated that no blockade with Captain Alexander Ball as its civil ad- pharmacist could fi ll up vacancies in the hospital dis- ministrator was dissolved, and both civil and military pensary unless he knew how to read, write, and speak command were placed under General Pigot.2 the English language.6 On 21 October 1829, a law for British control was formally ratifi ed by the Treaty establishing a modifi ed trial by jury in certain criminal of Amiens, signed on 27 March 1802 between England cases was enacted and published in the Malta Govern- and France (together with her allies Spain and the Bat- ment Gazette. In article VIII of the law, no mention was avian Republic). According to Article X, the islands of made of exempting pharmacists from becoming jurors, Malta, Gozo, and Comino had to be restored to the even though all advocates, priests, physicians and sur- Order of St John of Jerusalem, but four conditions had geons working in his majesty’s army or navy, were ex- to be met before Malta was handed over by the British empted.7 Th is was diff erent to the situation under the troops. Th ese were: 1) Th e Maltese language had to be Knights of St John, when pharmacists were exempted established within the Order; 2) Russia, Prussia and from military service and recognised as professionals in Bavaria had to guarantee that the Maltese islands would their own right. be independent; 3) A Grand Master had to be elected In 1851 ‘Instructions for the guidance of the offi c- and approved by the Pope and the Russian priory; and ers and servants of the Government and of the charita- 4) A Neapolitan garrison had to be established on the ble institutions of the Islands of Malta and Gozo’ were islands to defend them. issued. Th e Commissioners of Charity were appointed PHARMACEUTICAL HISTORIAN · 2021 · Volume 51/3 65 to enforce the regulations and instructions established Th e guidelines also laid down the duties of the assistant for the management of the charitable institutions. physician of the Franconi Lunatic Asylum (Box 2). Meanwhile, the Inspector of Prisons and Charitable in- stitutions was instructed to frequently visit and inspect Box 2. Duties of the assistant physician at the Franconi 9 the government dispensaries, hospital dispensaries and Lunatic Asylum apothecaries’ stores. Th e duties of the apothecary at the Central Civil Hospital were laid down in these guide- 1. To act as an apothecary at the lunatic asylum. lines (Box 1). 2. To assure that the medicines compounded were of good quality, and that they are properly ad- Box 1. Duties of the apothecary at the Central Civil Hos- ministered. pital8 3. To furnish a statement of the expenditure of medicines twice a year. 1. To be responsible for the dispensary, laboratory 4. To order medicines. and medical storerooms. 5. Responsibility for all the medicines at the dis- 2. To direct the preparation of decoctions, infu- pensary. sions, distilled waters etc, in the laboratory, and to keep furnished the dispensary with all active ingredients. In 1854, a law was enacted obliging apothecaries to fol- 3. To give advice and assistance to the junior med- low the London Pharmacopoeia in the preparation of ical offi cers in the preparation of medicines. drugs. Th e British Pharmacopoeia was adopted as the 4. To be responsible for medicines, instruments, offi cial one in Malta in 1864, when it replaced the Lon- 10 surgical materials, and to ensure that the quality don Pharmacopoeia in the United Kingdom. Prior to and packaging of medicines was up to standard, 1854, independent Maltese apothecaries and pharma- and that they were dispensed before their expiry cists used a variety of Italian and other pharmacopoe- date. ias. Th ese included Brugnatelli’s Farmacopea (Venice, 5. Not to issue any medicines, except when it was 1803), Campana’s Farmacopea Ferrarese (Bologna, a written requisition by the principal or an ap- 1827), and Orasi’s Farmacopea Italiana (Livorno, 1849). proved offi cer by the inspector. Th e requisition Pharmacists in government hospitals were obliged to 11 had to be numbered and fi led. follow the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia. 6. To present an application to the inspector for the No laws in the nineteenth century limited the authority to purchase any medicines and active- working hours of pharmacists. Th e British govern- ingredients. ment’s ‘laissez-faire’ policy resulted in self-regulation of 7. To avoid any undue wastage. the working hours of the apothecary according to the 8. To inform the inspector when any supplies were workload of his pharmacy. As a result, the nineteenth received, in order that, the quality of the medic- century apothecary worked longer hours than other inals received could be inspected by an examin- Maltese businesses, sometimes working until eleven 12 ing board. o’clock at night. 9. To check any invoices. 10. To fi le an application to the inspector, in order Th e dispensary of the General Hospital under the that a stock take could be made. Th is was usu- British ally done on the 1st of January. As during the times of the Knights, the head pharma- 11. To keep a General Entry Book where supplies cist was responsible for the running of the hospital were recorded. pharmacy. In 1821, the magazine ward was converted 12. To keep a General Expenditure Book, which was into an apothecary store, whilst the pharmacy still oc- used as a day-to-day ledger. cupied its old site. Th e pharmacy was still stocked with 13. To make a stock take every half-year, which was antique pots and jars. Th e laboratory was equipped with to be compared to the balance obtained from the all the necessary apparatus to distil and express oils. general entry book, after all receipts and invoic- Th ese crude drugs were required for the preparation of 13 es were written. ointments, powders, and extracts. 14. To submit every half-year a detailed accounts re- On 1 January 1859, Filippini Felice was appointed port. by the Governor to become the head pharmacist of the 15. To co-ordinate his assistants to compound med- dispensary and the medical stores of the charitable in- icines and draw up accounts. stitutions. He held this post for more than fourteen years, and had an annual salary of ninety pounds ster- 66 PHARMACEUTICAL HISTORIAN · 2021 · Volume 51/3 ling.14 Dr Giuseppe Bonnici was Filippini’s assistant, Box 3.