THE HISTORY OF MIDWIFERY EDUCATION IN THE MALTESE ISLANDS
surgery and medicine.50 Presumably, the surgical element of obstetrics was imparted by the professors of surgery. The first holder of the Chair of Anatomy and Surgery in the Collegio Medico was Michelangelo Grima [1771-1797], followed after his retirement by Aurelio Badat [1797-1813]. These apparently were assisted by other individuals. In 1778, Dr. Saverio Micallef was sent to Paris for three and a half years to study surgery including midwifery. On his return to Malta in 1782, he was appointed Professore delle operazioni chirurgiche e dell’arte ostetricia. This appointment confirms that surgical midwifery was at this time at least being taught to Maltese medical students. Dr. Micallef in 1786 is known to have taught obstetrics on a model similar to that of the School of Cosmos in Paris. Dr. Saverio Micallef in 1780 was listed as “chirurgo”; while during 1786 to 1798 was employed as “primo pratico” or “chirurgo principale” in the Sacra Infermeria and “chirurgo ordinario” in the Casette delle Donne.51 In addition, a number of 18th century practitioners in Malta are known to have followed a course of studies in midwifery practice. A Maltese doctor Giuseppe DeMarco proceeded to Montpelier in 1742 to finish his medical studies and is known to have assisted at a demonstration of the use of the forceps given by André Levret to the Paris Academy.52 At the same period Dr. Giuseppe Antonio Creni, a surgeon in the service of the Order who proposed the institution of the formal teaching of obstetrics to midwives, is known to have studied the art in Bologna.53
50
C. Savona-Ventura, C. Borg Galea: Universitas Studiorum Melitensis – Medicinae Chirugiaeque Facultate – Roll of Honour. University of Malta, Malta, 2007, +48p. 51 NML: AOM 1193, fol.284; AOM 1195, fols.149/152, 283-285; AOM 1196, fol.43/60; AOM 1198, fol.409/416. As reported in: J. Mizzi, V. Borg, A. Zammit Gabarretta [comp]. op. cit., 1967, p.94,106,108,111,131; and in: P. Cassar: French influence on medical developments in Malta, Ministry of Education, Malta, 1987, p.12. 52 J. Galea; Dr. Giuseppe Demarco (1712-1789). A biographical and bibliographical study based on hitherto unpublished material. St Luke’s Hospital Gazette, 1972, 7(1):p.3-13 53 P. Cassar, 1964: op. cit., p.412
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Midwifery
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