The book reviews the history of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem originally set up in the wake of the First Crusade in the early decades of the 12th century with the specific aim of helping the victims of Leprosy. It further assumed a military role participating in several military campaigns aimed at opposing the Islamic incursions in the Holy Land. After being expelled from Acre at the end of the 13th century, it established its magistracy in France. Political machinations during the 15-16th century led to the Order being split up into two major fractions - one under the direction of...

The book is a dedicated account of the history of medicine practiced in Early Modern Malta when the Islands were managed by the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. The changing patterns of disease throughout the 16th to 18th centuries and the response to managing these conditions are reviewed. The nook further looks at the legislative efforts introduced to control disease, the educational endeavors undertaken to improve the standards of care, and the social welfare systems adopted to better the lives of the population.

The Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem was established in the aftermath of the First Crusade of 1098. It was subsequently organized into a military and hospitaller Order with several establishments in various European countries all subservient to a central house sited first in Jerusalem, then Acre, Boigny, Paris and Spain. The Order was led throughout the centuries by a series of masters or grand masters. It has also enjoyed a number of Royal and Spiritual Protectors.

This book is the final volume of a series of books by the same author covering the history of medicine in the Maltese Islands from the prehistoric age right through the modern period. This volume deals with the medical practice during the last two-hundred years, a period that saw the final phase of the emergence of the scientific basis of disease understanding and management. The Contemporary Period in the Maltese Islands saw its start with political upheaval resulting in the ousting of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John by the french, and the eventual ousting of the new rulers with the...