Reports of the Commission appointed by the Admiralty, the War Office, and the civil government of Malta, for the investigation of Mediterranean fever / under the supervision of an advisory committee of the Royal Society.

  • Great Britain. Admiralty. Commission for the Investigation of Mediterranean Fever.
Date:
1905-7
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Reports of the Commission appointed by the Admiralty, the War Office, and the civil government of Malta, for the investigation of Mediterranean fever / under the supervision of an advisory committee of the Royal Society. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    INTRODUCTION. The Mediterranean Fever Commission had its origin in a letter from Mr. Secretary Lyttelton, dated January 25, 1904, addressed to the Royal Society, in which he states that his attention has recently been called to the prevalence of Mediterranean fever in Malta among the Naval and Military forces, as well as the civil population. It accordingly appeared to him to be desirable that the investigation of this fever should be taken in hand, and he addressed a despatch to the Governor of Malta proposing the appointment of a joint Commission representing the Army, the Navy, and the Civil Government. He enclosed a copy of a despatch from the Governor in reply, entirely concurring in the proposed appointment of a joint Commission. The War Office and Admiralty also expressed their concurrence in the proposal. Mr. Secretary Lyttelton then went on to say that the War Office, the Admiralty, and the Civil Government desired to secure for this Commission the assistance of the Royal Society, and asked whether the Society would be willing to appoint an Advisory Board of experts in this country for the purpose of supervising the investigations. In reply to this letter the Royal Society wrote, in February, 1904, consenting to nominate a Committee to direct the investigations, on the understanding that the selection of the investigators should be placed in the hands of the Royal Society. A Sub-Committee of the Tropical Diseases Committee was accordingly formed, consisting of Colonel Bruce, R.A.M.C., Chairman, Fleet Surgeon Bassett-Smith, R.N., Dr. Klein, Dr. C. J. Martin, and Dr. Sidney Martin. As it was desirable to begin the investigations with as little delay as possible, the Sub-Committee at once appointed Major Horrocks, R.A.M.C., Staff-Surgeon Shaw, R.N., and Dr. Zammit, Board of Health, Malta, as members of the Commission, and Colonel Bruce was requested to proceed to Malta to assist them in commencing the work. Colonel Bruce arrived in Malta on June 13, where he met the Commission, and work was at once begun. He remained in Malta until July 14, when he left for England. Dr. Johnstone, whose services were lent by the Local Government Board, on the application of the Royal Society, joined the Commission on June 30.