The History of the Plague, as It Has Lately Appeared in the Islands of Malta, Goza, Corfu, Cephalonia: Detailing Important Facts

An army surgeon and later deputy inspector of hospitals in Jamaica, James Dillon Tully (1785-1827) witnessed at first hand the spread of the plague through the Mediterranean in the early nineteenth century. In particular, he was instrumental in controlling the disease in Corfu and Cephalonia. This work, first published in 1821, is his account of the outbreak and the response to it after its arrival by ship in Malta. Tullys goal in writing the book was to educate the public about the plague, in response to doubts over the nature of this recent outbreak. He focuses on describing the disease, the manner by which it spread, and methods of treating and controlling it. Stressing the historical effectiveness of quarantine and spelling out its implementation in the Mediterranean, this work is a detailed and methodical source which remains of interest to researchers in the history of medicine and epidemiology.