Magyar László szerk.: Orvostörténeti Közlemények 174-177. (Budapest, 2001)
TANULMÁNYOK — ARTICLES - Máthé-Shires László: Who Lives Where? British Anti-Malaria Policy in Southern-Nigeria (1899-1912)
Southern Nigeria, 1895—1912 The eastern parts of Southern Nigeria that constituted the Protectorate consisted of large territories interlarded with jungle and the marshes of the Delta. Its history also differed from Lagos since it was this territory where Britain's informal empire developed to the highest stage in West Africa when the Royal Niger Company was formed under Goldie in 1886. In 1900 the territory came under Crown control as the Southern Nigerian Protectorate. Since its formation was linked to a commercial venture, the predominant aims were the achievement of the largest possible profit. The hand-over was facilitated by former members of the RNCo administration of whom some remained in service after 190 0. 34 The first decade of the Protectorate's history was influenced by the presence of these people. The members of the eastern protectorate administration facilitated the 1906 amalgamation with Lagos. As a result, some fields received less attention afterwards. Among them was the question of medicine, especially in regards to Africans. Malaria was the single largest problem for Europeans living in the Protectorate at this time. For example in 1900 the annual death and invalided rate because of diseases — predominantly, about 70 per cent, because of malaria — was at 230 per thousand. 3 ^ The single largest project that represented the Protectorate's malaria policy was the construction of European bungalows in Calabar, on a small hill, following the 1903 circular urging the introduction of new malaria strategies. In the field of African health, Assistant Governor Probyn's words regarding small-pox vaccination reveal the basic attitude when he said that 'Civilisation can hardly confer a greater boon on the natives of this Protectorate than that of making them immune from small-pox'. 36 It is also true that while in Lagos, where the population was around 40,000 there were 12,000 vaccinations provided in 1903, while in the same year in the Protectorate, where the estimated number of the African population was over one million, there were only 25,000 vaccinations given. 37 Also, after 1903 Governor Moor — an old member of the Royal Niger Company ordered the survey for the future construction of European reservations. 38 High Commissioner than later governor Egerton's malaria policy was nil in the initial period, between Moor's retirement in 1903 and the amalgamation in 1906. Based on governmental correspondence, there are almost no references made to any medical problems that arose during his years in the Protectorate. Just prior to the amalgamation with Lagos, he proposed the suspension of free quinine distribution to Europeans, maintaining that it had cost the government too much and the vital statistics showed improvement regardless. This was already a step beyond the tolerance of the CO and he promptly retreated. 39 Following the amalgamation with Lagos, some kind of an antagonism existed between the governor (Egerton) and the Lagos PMO, Strachan. Yet, Strachan managed to maintain 34 This point is remarked as a general tendency, see A. H. M. Kirk-Greene, Britain's Imperial Administrators 1858—1966. (London—Oxford, 2000), 57—85. 35 Annual report Southern Nigeria 1900, PP 1901 XLV [Cd. 431] 36 Probyn to CO, 26 th of October, 1903, CO 520/20. 37 Annual Report Southern Nigeria 1903 and Annual Report Lagos 1903. For Probyn's words, see fn. 259. on page 38 'European Reservation Proclamation' 16/1902. Southern Nigeria Blue Books, 1902 39 Egerton to CO, 22 nd February 1906, CO 520/35.
