Home > Indian History > History of India > Malarial Research In British India
Malarial Research In British India
Malarial research in British India delved deep into the problem, successfully coming up with antidotes.

Share this Article:

Malarial Research In British IndiaMalarial research in British India began under the auspices of a luminous and respected personality, Sir Ronald Ross, who became incidental to carry forward the established legacy. Conferences were held to know the exact reason of increasing number of patients. Hygiene and cleanliness were identified as the key defence to the issue. Malaria could only be stopped with a proper attitude to disease, including awareness to check it by not letting contamination to push through.

During the years of 1896-1902, Sir Ronald Ross (1857-1932) conducted a series of laboratory experiments in Calcutta and Secunderabad which determined that the anopheline mosquito carried the malaria parasite. For this discovery he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1902. Ross`s significant headway towards a grave problem did much to aid in scientific research in British India, perhaps saving India from future calamities.

In October 1909, the Imperial Malaria Conference convened at Shimla. The Conference made recommendations which led to the establishment of a Central Malaria Committee to investigate the epidemiology of malaria. It also created a new Journal Paludism, in which malaria research findings were published.

After a series of fruitful scientific researches by Britishers in India, and with the turn of the century, even more exhaustive researches were to take place. In 1889, the Cantonment Act was passed with the intent to inspect, segregate and treat Indian prostitutes thought to be infected with venereal disease.

In 1894, the Indian Medical Congress convened for the first time in Calcutta. As a result of this conference, the Home Department of the Government of India created an Indigenous Drugs Committee to investigate the value and use of indigenous drugs.

Within the period of 1898-99, Almroth Edward Wright (1861-1947) of the Royal Army Medical College at Netley researched and developed an anti-typhoid vaccine which was tried on 4502 British soldiers in India with victorious results.

From the time of 5 May to 27 July 1903, Rogers conducted in London studies of the physiological impact of snake venoms. His work resulted in the development of the Brunton lancet which employed a process calling for the use of a ligature to prevent the spread of venom, an incision at the local of the snake bite and the rubbing for crystals of permanganate into the wound. This process did indeed come to much later use to cure a snake bite using anti-venomous measures. This precise scientific research by British scientists paved India to fight for more deadly diseases.

On 11 March 1905, Lord Ampthill (1869-1935) opened the King Institute of Preventive Medicine at Madras and in 1906 the Central Research Institute at Kasauli.

In 1906, the Asiatic Society of Bengal formed a Medical Section. This provided an important forum for the discussion of current medical research in India. Also in 1906 the Calcutta Medical Club formed to provide a place for medical dialogue.

In 1907, a vaccine Institute was established at Belgaum in the Bombay Presidency capable of producing 200,000 doses of smallpox vaccine a year.

Scientific researches under British India were by now a necessary thing for speedy recovery. With such intelligent men joining to make India almost infection-free, natives provided much to slowly turn to a positive side. In 1911, the first All-India Sanitary Conference was held in Bombay under the leadership of Sir Harcourt Butler (1869-1938), Education Member of the Viceroy`s Council.

In the same year, Butler and Sir Charles Pardey Lukis (1857-1917), Surgeon-General, established the Indian Research Fund Association for the purpose of recruiting medical researchers and for carrying out research programmes. Its medical findings were to appear in the Indian Journal of Medical Research and the Indian Medical Research Memoirs.

Malarial Research In British IndiaIn 1912, the Medical Registration Act was passed in Bombay Legislative Council. The Act established a Medical Council and a registration list of medical practitioners, who in future would list only those physicians allowed to hold appointments in hospitals or in government service. This measure served as an important predecessor to the 1933 All India Medical Council and its responsibility for the regulation of medical qualifications and training in Indian Medical Schools.

In March of the same year, Rogers successfully used emetine injections to cure amoebic dysentery. This was a smart move towards advanced scientific research by British in India.

Within the period of 1910-21, Rogers initiated planning for the established of the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine to institutionalise scientific medical research in India. It was modelled greatly on the schools of tropical medicine located in London and Liverpool. On February 24, 1914 Lord Carmichael (1859-1936) laid the school`s foundation stone. The school began its operations in 1921.

In 1913, the Government of India accepted the fact that the incidence of tuberculosis was of sufficient magnitude. The government also acknowledged that it began to consider measures to guarantee the purity of milk.

In 1919, the Government of India transferred medical education, medical care and public health to the provincial governments under the terms of dyarchy. Here, it was placed under the guidance of an Indian Minister. One notable consequence embraced ministerial support for mass cholera and plague inoculation of Indians. In times when the Jalianwalabagh Amritsar massacre was at its peak and Indian nationalists were raging full-time war against English bastion, scientific researches suffered to a length. British men were no longer believed as gospel, Indians tried to better English people in every aspect and were successful. As such scientific researches under the shadow of British India presented a dichotomy.

In the period within 1920-21, the provincial governments of Bengal and Madras acquiesced to Indian demands to establish committees of inquiry to investigate the usefulness of indigenous medical systems. In October 1921 the Madras committee, chaired by Mohammad Usman, issued a report making a case for ayurveda, or Hindu medicine, except for the acceptance of Western surgery. In consequence, the Government of Madras opened a School of Indian Medicine, with G. Srinivasa Murti as its Director.

On 12 July 1923, the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association was founded in a meeting of supporters at the India Office. The new organisation named former Indian Viceroy, Lord Chelmsford, as its President. The Association financed research, advised medical officers and missionaries and supplied drugs to India and throughout the British Empire.

In December 1932, the All-India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health opened in Calcutta with the aid of a 648,000-dollar grant from the Rockefeller Foundation.

In October 1943, the Government of India created a committee headed by Sir Joseph William Bhore (1878-1960) to examine provisions for public health in India after the Second World War concluded. Its 1946 report criticised past British efforts in public health and medical research and called for more broadly available public health measures for the Indian people.

In 1945, Lieutenant-Colonel C. K. Lakshmann, Chairman of Industrial Health Advisory Committee, recommended the establishment of a system of medical inspections for Indian industries and mines.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in History of India


History of Uttar Pradesh
The state was the heart of Mahabharata war and the history of Uttar Pradesh is very much the history of India. The place finds its mentions in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
History Of Archaeology In India
History of archaeology in India contributes a lot to define the past history and the social life of India.
Mughal Architecture during Babur
Mughal Architecture during Babur is of adequate significance in Mughal history, as the emperor introduced Mughal architecture in India, during 16th century.
Princely State of Patdi
Princely State of Patdi or Patri was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was a sub division of Western India States Agency.
Architecture during Sayyid and Lodi Dynasty
Architectures during the Sayyid and Lodi dynasty were mainly the tombs and monuments for the dead rulers. It were carefully designed and meticulously constructed.
Brahmanical Sources of Ancient History
Brahmanical Sources of ancient history are contained in the Vedas and they constitute one of the most important literary sources of information about ancient India.
Female Education In British India
The over brimming enthusiasm among zealous Hindu reformers welcomed female education in British India.
Revenue System of Mauryan Empire
Revenue system of Mauryan Empire can be divided into eight categories. The principal revenue of the state was the land revenue, taxes from traders, artisans and professional taxes were also collected.
Mughal Architecture During Jahangir
Mughal architecture during Jahangir`s period was relative dull in comparison to that of Akbar dynasty.
Princely State of Satlasna
Princely State of Satlasna was amongst the former native states of India that was appointed as one of the Indian princely states during the early 19th century.
Coins of Chola Empire
Coins of Chola Empire were issued in gold, silver and copper and carried the Chola emblem.
Social Life during the Pala Period
Religious toleration and simple living were the characteristics of social life during the Pala period.
Coins of the Chalukya Dynasty
Coins of the Chalukya Dynasty was reintroduced in the South India after a brief break of coinage less period of nearly three century. Chalukyas issued coins only in gold and they exhibit a brilliant artistic skill of the engraver.
Costumes of Indus Valley Civilisation
Costumes of Indus valley Civilization have been considered as the basis for Indian clothes. Sophisticated ornaments and make up were used during that age.
Development of Science under Gupta Empire
Development of Science under Gupta Empire was progressive and it had attained considerable perfection. Mathematics, astronomy, medicine, chemistry, physics and metallurgy were the most prominent of the sciences at that time.
Culture under Delhi Sultanate
Culture under Delhi Sultanate had enduring aspects to it. It included the society, the religious condition, literature and art and architecture of that period.
Princely State of Hapa
Princely State of Hapa was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was under the administrative control of the Western India States Agency.
Economy Under Chola Dynasty
Economy under Chola dynasty was strong and well developed. The economic life of the people of the Chola Kingdom was well balanced with their social life.
Coins of Khilji Dynasty
Coins of Khilji Dynasty had an influential feature that was followed by the other dynasties.
Religion During Mauryan Dynasty
Religion during Mauryan dynasty became a considerable episode in Indian history with an esteemed lineage of rulers.