The Army Medical Department
And the Malta Garrison
1822

The total strength of the garrison in 1822, including invalids, was 2,480 troops. A detachment of 70 men, consisting of 52 men from the 18th Foot, 15 men from the Maltese Fencible Regiment and 3 soldiers from the Royal Artillery were at Fort Chambray, Gozo. They served as guards at Rabat (12 men), Comino (3 men), Mgarr-ix-Xieni (2 men) and Marsascala (2 men).

Fort Ricasoli was used as a depôt for troops sailing to and from Corfu. In April 1822, a ward was set aside in Fort Ricasoli for the treatment of ophthalmia patients. In August, a convalescent depôt was opened in Forts Chambray Gozo and Ricasoli for the invalids of the Ionian Islands

There were 2,817 admissions into the hospitals, including relapses, with 39 deaths. The main diseases were: continued fever 585 (12 deaths), febris synochus 23 (2 deaths), pulmonary abscess 193, pneumonia 139 (3 deaths), splenitis 4 (1 death), phthisis pulmonalis 10 (5 deaths), catarrhus acutus 49 (3 deaths), dysenteria 103 (3 deaths), apoplexy 1 (1 death), diarrhoea 150 (3 deaths), venereal 239, gonorrhoea 127.

In 1822, the garrison recorded: syphilis primitiva 28, syphilis consecutiva 9, non syphilitic genital ulcers 134, bubo simplex 68, and gonorrhoea 27.

Hennen adopted the non mercurial treatment of syphilis. He however accepted its limitations and mercury was resorted to when considered necessary. He stated that upon the whole, during 1822 under the non mercurial practice adopted to its fullest extent in this garrison, there has not occurred a single embarrassing case or a single symptom which would lead to the shadow of doubt as to the propriety of continuing it.

• 6 Apr Baptism of Leonce Routh born on 3 Dec 1820, son of Adelaide Marie Josephine Laminière and Deputy Commissary General Randolph Isham Routh.
• 6 Apr Baptism of Charles Henry Felix Routh born 4 Jan 1822, son of Adelaide Marie Josephine Laminière and Deputy Commissary General Randolph Isham Routh.
• 27 Apr 1822 Baptism of Graham Alexander Balneavis born 10 April, son of Georgiana and Lt Col Henry Balneavis. The child died on 23 May 1822, aged 7 weeks. (Military and Civil Cemetery Floriana).
• 10 May Baptism of John Duncan Campbell Macnab born 11 April 1822, son of Elizabeth Mackay Campbell and Deputy Assistant Commissary General Duncan Macnab. DACG Macnab held that rank from 3 Feb 1813.
  Elizabeth was the eldest daughter of Duncan Campbell, Sheriff-Substitute Campbeltown who married in Leith in 1817.
• 20 May Baptism of William Frederick Raitt born 1 May 1822, son of Frances and Deputy Adjutant General Lt Col George Edward Raitt.
  Lt Col Raitt was promoted Lt Col on 25 Sep 1814 and placed on the half pay of 90th Regt on 24 July 1817.
• 9 June Baptism of Louisa Bingham born 14 April 1822, daughter of Bridget and Gentleman William Bingham Pay Master General Department.
• 29 June Baptism of Henrietta Bowman born 7 June 1822, daughter of Eliza Shepherd and Deputy Assistant Commissary General William Flockhart Bowman. W Bowman became DACG on 4 May 1814.
• 5 July Baptism of Mary Spurrier born 21 April 1821, daughter of Louisa and Assistant Commissary General John Spurrier. J Spurrier became ACG on 1 July 1814.
• 4 Aug Baptism of Charles Ottley born 7 July 1822, son of Anne and Lt Benjamin Robert Ottley on the half-pay of 61st Regt.
  Lt Ottley was ranked as Lt in the 90th (Perthshire Volunteers) from 5 Oct 1820 and Lt in the army since 16 July 1812.
• 13 Oct Baptism of Catherine Baker born 26 Sep 1822, daughter of Catherine and George Baker late Acting Sgt 51st Regt.
• Recruit John Bywater, 51st Regt, aged 23 yrs, arrived from the Ionian Islands for change of climate. He died in Gozo from phthisis on the second day of his admission into the hospital of the 85th Foot. He was emaciated, short of breath, and had such a considerable deformity of his chest that the medical staff were surprised as to how he could have possibly been enlisted.
• William Bridger 51st Regt, aged 28 yrs, died of dysentery 40 days after his admission to the hospital of the 18th Foot. He was a convalescent sent to Malta from the Ionian Islands.

General Orders Horse Guards 25 April 1822: Inspectors were to wear:

• Blue coat, double breasted, lapels of the same colour.
• Scarlet collar and cuffs, slashed sleeves and skirts.
• Three gold embroidered loops on the collar, three on each cuff, three plain on each sleeve.
• Gilt buttons with the crown, star, the letters GR and the words Hospital Staff raised thereon.
• Plain cocked hat, black button and black silk loop.
• White breeches and long boots or white pantaloons with Hessian boots.
• White breeches with silk stockings, shoes and gilt buckles for full dress.
• Blue overalls for undress.
• Sword belt to be worn under the coat, knot, a regulation sword as approved for officers of infantry.
• Black silk cravat or stock.
• White leather gloves.
• Blue great coat.

Deputy Inspectors wore two embroidered loops on the collar, two on each cuff and two plain on each sleeve.

From 28 Nov 1822, Physicians wore a single breasted coat with two embroidered loops in their collar to distinguished them from staff surgeons. Assistant Staff Surgeons distinguished themselves from Hospital Assistants by having one embroidered loop in the collar.

The apothecaries wore a single breasted blue coat, scarlet collar and cuffs, slashed sleeves and skirts, one button on the collar, one on each cuff and one on each sleeve.

The Assistant Staff Surgeons and Hospital Assistants wore a single breasted blue coat with scarlet collar, slashed sleeves and skirts, one button on the collar and two on each sleeve.

In 1822, a Professorship of Anatomy and a Chair of Surgery was established at the University of Malta. The first to hold the Chair was the former Army Surgeon Gavino Patrizio Portelli, who remained in post for 16 years.