Documents written on wood during the plague of 1813 in Malta

Abstract

The Maltese Islands have had several visitations of pestilence, one of the major epidemics occurring in 1813-14. It was then believed that plague was spread by contact from one person to another and by means of certain " susceptible " articles which were considered to be fomites of the disease.' Paper, like straw, feathers, and hairs, was thought capable of disseminating the "contagion "; even in non-epidemic times it was the practice at the Malta Lazaretto to fumigate all letters and parcels coming into the island from places known to be foci of pestilence. The letters were not touched by hand, but were caught and carried by means of tongs until the fumigating process was over.