Malta – A Very Curious Custom

Still intrigued by the book about Malta written by Thomas MacGill in the 1830s, he tells of a very curious custom that it is fortunately long since consigned to history. Or, certainly in Malta at least.

“A curious custom exists in the Island of giving puppy broth to people pining away from a fright, and in some cases obstructions in young people. The puppy is thrown alive into boiling water, and boiled down to a strong broth, a basin of this is given to the patient, who is kept in ignorance of what it is made from, until it is eaten, then he is informed. He is shown the remains, the idea is that one disgust cures another, it is said to have a good effect.”