Malta fever / J. Crawford Kennedy.

  • Kennedy, J. Crawford.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Malta fever / J. Crawford Kennedy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    453/470 (page 5)
    I order ! A certain learned Theologian, writing to the Expository Times, gives an example of the Higher Criticism as applied to the much vexed question of Paul’s thorn in the flesh, and comes to the conclusion that the Apostle must have suffered from Malta fever. He arranges the Scriptural evidences and the clinical symptoms of the disease in parallel columns, one against the other. Thus:— Paul’s Infirmity. A stake for the flesh. Charge of fickleness. Called a madman. Bufleting of Satan’s angels. Excitement of contempt and loathing. Constant impalement and buffeting. Sentence of death in himself. ^Ialta Fever. Headache, pain in joints and muscles. Temporary impairment of memory. Nocturnal delirium. Rheumatic like pains and neuralgia. Crippling and skin eruptions. Chronic pains, ueuralgia, and debility. Occasional endocarditis or pneumonia.' What do our clinicians say to that for a diagnosis ! I am afraid that a mere bacteriologist is not of much assistance in this case. Perhaps some of our specialists in psychology will assist; they would appear to be better able to follow the mental gymnastics of this Higher Criticism. This communication is now longer than I had intended it to be, and I shall straightway conclude by giving extracts from a letter sent to me by the adjutant of a regiment, in reply to a request that the men be asked to collect mosquitoes and forward them to me in boxes. The men did their duty nobly, and supplied us with more specimens than we could comfortably deal with, but they evidently got good value out of the game. I am afraid that we got a very ' poor share of the fun—as there is little humour to be derived from the dissection of some hundreds of mosquitoes. Extract from Letter. “ Fort , Malta, , 1905. “ Dear Kennedy,—P. has passed your note on to me, and all our men are now running about with butterfly nets, or trying to tempt the wily mosquito with lumps of raw\meat, and I’ve indented for a small size of mouse trap, but am doubtful if the Government will supply J;he necessary bait. Up to the present the bag is one, and he struggled so when our Kegimental Police were effecting his capture that he bad to be hit hard on the head and I’m afraid is almost unrecognisable. “ P.S.—Another capture just reported—we’ve put him in the guard room till your boxes arrive. He has been biting and was consequently drunk and his capture was easy. Ought mosquitoes (when drunk) to have their boots removed ’? ” I :> A T ' I •• i >1