The History of the Plague, as It Has Lately Appeared in the Islands of Malta, Goza, Corfu, Cephalonia
Detailing Important Facts, Illustrative of the Specific Contagion of that Disease, with Particulars of the Means Adopted for Its Eradication
Cambridge Library Collection - History of Medicine Series

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. Tully's 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.

Preface; 1. The destructive effects of plague; 2. The plague in Malta, always considered as contagious; 3. Precautions taken in Gozo when Malta was suffering under the plague, removed; 4. Sketch of the plague in 1813 and 1814; 5. History of the plague at Corfu; 6. The system of a forced separation; 7. Plague breaks out in Cephalonia; 8. Brief sketch of the late plague at Noia; 9. General observations; 10. The contagion of plague; Supplement; Appendix.