Malaria

With Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, the English began a period of almost unchecked imperial growth. The expansion created opportunities for ambitious members of the middle class to amass large sums of money and live in imperial lands like members of the upper class. However, living in a distant colony was anything but easy and the lands were termed the “white man’s grave” because of the droves of people that died from malaria. Due to the high mortality rates, in the 1890s, the London School of Tropical Medicine was set up to deal with the diseases people encountered in the colonies. The London School of Tropical Medicine is interesting because although the institution was created to deal with colonial diseases, there were no satellites in the colonies . The founders wanted to keep it within the established framework of medicinal institutions.

Two doctors, Manson and Ross, were critical in dealing with the malaria problems. They proposed two different and effective solutions for combating malaria. Manson focused on the etiology of tropical diseases and research in the UK with established networks and centers, particularly with the London School of Tropical Medicine. Ross, on the other hand, proposed direct involvement with the problem by cleaning stagnant water, finding breeding grounds and eliminating them to eradicate mosquitoes. The malaria debate shows two very different ways of dealing with public health problems recognizable today. Extensive study allowed scientists to identify that there were two cycles of malaria and that both humans and mosquitoes acted as vectors and helped people realize that they could use quinine as an effective prophylaxis. I found it interesting that the biggest reason for creating studies to deal with malaria were to increase profits because with so many people dying, businesses were not as efficient because their workforce was not lasting. I also thought it was interesting that no care was given to the natives. I would have thought that they would have wanted to take care of them so they could use them as cheap labor. The malaria question nicely ties science, medicine, and government into one. Without Chamberlain’s influence the London School of Tropical Medicine would never have been created. The London School of Tropical Medicine focused more on etiology and scientific research into the disease than going into the colonies. How much did medicine change after the London School was created? Did large numbers of people still die after the introduction of quinine, particularly in gin and tonics? Did alcoholism increase in the colonies after gin and tonics because people could rationalize drinking?