TOLL OF THE TROPICS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 989, 4 June 1930, Page 11

TOLL OF THE TROPICS

EMPIRE’S VITAL CONCERN NOT DOING ITS BEST The Empire was not doing its best to combat malaria, said Sir Andrew Balfour, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, speaking on “Health and Empire” at the British Medical Association Hall, London. “Look where we will, we find evidence that the British Empire has been built upon the bones of dead men and of dead women, the majority, beyond all doubt, victims not of want, but of pestilence,” said Sir Andrew. “Happily there is another side to the shield, and it behoves us to consider how a great change has been wrought, how we have passed from darkness to light, though, at the same time, it is essential to remember that the fight against the forces of disease is far from being wholly won.

“It must also be remembered that if. in the olden days, the Empire paid scant heed to the health of its white population, it paid even less to that of the native races which passed under its sway, except here and there in the case of slaves who possessed monetary value. Now, however, it has shouldered the white man’s burden, and throughout its length and breadth the care of the-health of native communities is a feature of modern administration. To do this country justice, she usually cleaned up places on which she laid her claws, at least after she had learnt to keep herself clean; or, in view of present conditions, should we say fairly clean?” Sir Andrew condemned the practice of "dumping” people in ill-health in the colonies. He referred to the old idea of sending convicts to Australia, and the victims of pulmonary tuberculosis on the South African Karroo and in Kenya.

Referring to early pioneer work in founding the Empire, Sir Andrew said: “It was indeed a path of loss and misery as well as of glory and of great deeds. And yet, perhaps, there is another side to the picture, for, if 'n that great struggle for domination too much account had been taken of sickness and pestilence, it is conceivable that the goal would never have been reached.” Sir Andrew spoke of the necessity for applying the results of research and pleaded for the establishment of demonstration centres and the provision where they are lacking, of clinical laboratories in hospitals. He said that we have not as an Empire done our best to cope with malaria. In many places the methods of Ross have not been applied with the energy and skill necessary. Regarding ankylostomaisis, the insidious malady due to the hookworm, he said it is a foe to be fought on a large scale. The Americans have done much, particularly the International Health Division of the Rockefeller Foundation. Very properly if plays the part of Providence upon conditions. In most places the colonies have loyally fulfilled the conditions, but sometimes they have failed to continue the good work when outside help was withdrawn.