The Malta cholera epidemic in 1837

Abstract

The cholera epidemic which reached Malta in 1837 originated in Tessory in India in July 1817. The credit for diagnosing it first goes to Dr. S. Axisa, the physician to the Hospital for Old People in Floriana, when on the 9th June 1837 he was asked to see two inmates who were suffering from a severe illness. The first victims of the epidemic were Paul Attard aged 80 years from Gozo and Francis Abdilla, 70 years, from Zebbug, who died, comforted by the Holy Sacraments. The following three days showed a sharp rise in cases. By noon of the 13th June 1837, 27 persons had been attacked, of whom 17 had died by then. A “Central Committee for the Supervision of Cases of Cholera", was set up when the disease seemed to be getting out of hands. The Committee supervised very closely the activities of the medical profession. A table indicating the incidence of cholera in the island of Gozo during the epidemic is presented. The official thanksgiving for the restoration of the public health took place on the 23rd October when a Solemn Service and "Te Deum" were celebrated in the church of St. John.