Colonialism and Disease in Cholera, Kuru and Anthrax - Essay Example

Colonialism and Disease in Cholera, Kuru and Anthrax Since Christopher Columbus, a Spanish explorer and navigator, discovered the world and industrial revolution, it pulls the prelude of colonialism. His discovery opened up the Americas to European colonization. Colonialism refers to the practice of domination by subjugating one people to another and control of politics and economy over a dependent territory. Some of the Industrially developed countries such as Spain and the United Kingdom, who owned strong marine army, set up many colonies in different parts of the world. Some of the reasons behind colonization were that it brought huge benefits to the colonizer due to the abundance of natural resources and human resources, labor. Spain in the early 1600's and other huge nations was looking to develop land in the new world for themselves and get gold, silver and power whilst converting natives. After coming to the new world, the Spanish explored, conquering the natives and built settlements. However, with an increased rate colonialism, many historians observe that the rate of contagious some particular disease also increased and the western medication is another justification of promoting colonialism. Historians such as Roland Chrisjohn and John S. Milly from Canada have since published documents showing evidence on how the discussion about disease spread concealed by colonialists to hide the actual origins of the natives were infected with the new diseases. Historians have stated that European colonists on discovering that the indigenous people were not immune to certain diseases, they deliberately spread the diseases for military advantages and to subjugate the local people. . Therefore, the correlation between colonialism and disease can be examined in following disease cases: Cholera in India, Kuru in eastern Highlands of New Guinea and smallpox in China during Late Imperial Time. Cholera, as defined as an Asian or Indian disease during 19th century (Nappi, Lecture 3.1 21 January 2014), was rampant in India and also in industrially developed country as United kingdom. It spread across the world from its source in the Ganges delta, in India. Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal and virulent disease that affects both children and adults and kills within hours if left untreated. Effective control of cholera relies on the preparedness, prevention and response. According to most European and American physicians, Cholera was a locally produced miasmatic disease which was brought about by direct exposure to filthy and decayed products. The widespread of cholera has a strong linkage with the establishment of East India Company, which was founded by the British Empire to represent the power of British Empire in India. The linkage between Cholera and East India Company interprets the relationship between Colonialism and disease. This is because with the increased level of trade and the colonial endeavors known as "British Raj", the disease began to disseminate along the trade routes. In addition to that, European colonizers define Cholera as "Asian" disease, from their perspective; cholera was recognized as a fatal illness originated in India. There are several reasons to explain why European colonizers think the cholera was originated in India. Cholera was first noticed among the British troops in India, and it spread to Russia then to England. To begin with, because of the climate condition is completely different between India and England, people easily get infected by cholera; English bodies worked differently in India environment. Second part is "Inherently clean", this allows more prone to getting diseases since cholera is frequently transmitted by contaminated water sources and foods especially raw foods. "Inherently clean" may include poor sanitation and housing conditions in the rural area of India. The Indians had unclean habits and drank foul water, washed, bathed and drank from the same tank in the name of religion. The unclean habits were: The Indians left the household filth to accumulate, used private tanks for all purposes, privy and drinking well were too close. They left blood and offal of slaughtered animals within the dwelling places, and many homes were overcrowded. Thirdly is about natural hazard as famine happened in India. Place like Bengal people ate and drank the blood of different animals (Nappi, Lecture 3.1 21 January 2014). Also in 1867,the International sanitary congress which was held in Constantinople mentioned India as being the birthplace of Asiatic cholera. The congress blamed the British in India for not putting up measures to prevent the spread. Therefore, cholera became more rapid spread in India. With the increased speed transportation allowed by industrial revolution, it led to the rapid spread of the disease. The contact with the whites, poor sanitation practices and malnutrition aided cholera spread through the Indian communities leading to widespread of cholera in Europe and around the world. Colonialism made colonizers wealthy, but it also led to spread of cholera in developing colonial activities. From cholera disease case, it clearly explains that colonialism has exerted influences on the widespread of the disease. Meanwhile, in 1965, famous medical research D. Carleton Gajdusek conducted the medical study of kuru in the eastern highlands of New Guinea (Anderson, 1). The investigation of kuru disease in New Guinea not only shows the emergence of a new infectious agent-prion (Nappi, Lecture 4.2, 30 January 2014), but also explains how the promotion of western medicines as a way of colonization (bio-colonialism) to experience on the primitive life of Fore people in New Guinea. The fore practiced ritualistic cannibalism, in which relatives prepared and ate the tissues of the deceased family members. Ingesting tissues from individuals with kuru led to widespread infections. The disease was transmitted through eating or contact with open sores and wounds. Kuru being a fatal brain disease threatened the Fore people of eastern highlands of New Guinea and the central factor of getting kuru disease is called "cannibalism". There are some key components involved in the term "cannibalism": brain organisms, women and children. (Nappi, Lecture 4.2, 30 January 2014). Another factor of wide spreading kuru on New Guinea is majority of Fore people remain superstitious, they tend to believe that kuru was "a particularly malign from of sorcery” (Anderson, 1). The Fore people in New Guinea came to the contact zone to experience medicalized colonialism (Anderson 114) and western science approaches to make the transition of "primitive" Fore people into modern people. In order to accomplish the research goal, some medical researchers develop the trading relationship with the Fore people; to get blood or some organisms from the Fore people. However, this has argued by scholars that the medical researchers were commodifying humanity; is an act of "bio-colonialism" (Anderson 220). On one hand, colonialism in New Guinea allows the medical research of kuru disease and exerts influences on the development of primitive Fore people to modern people. On the other hand, during late imperial China, there was a disease rampant the whole country; even one of the emperor of Qing dynasty also infected by this disease—smallpox. Smallpox, a contagious disease, is not only a serious disease at late imperial China, but also proves that how medicine acts as a colonial tool (Nappi, Lecture 2.1, 14 January). During Qing dynasty, the most common treatment of curing smallpox is variolation. Meanwhile, in late 18th century, smallpox vaccination was developed by Edward Jenner in England. When contrast these two different medical methods, it is clear to observe that variolation is more superstitious than smallpox vaccination. However, when look below the surface, smallpox vaccination used as a useful tool for colonial operations in late imperial China. When western medical doctors came into Qing dynasty with smallpox vaccination, their motivations not only do surgery to help smallpox victims, but also for selling the smallpox vaccination at a higher price for a huge profit. From the discussion above, we can draw the conclusion that the rapid development of modern society and accelerated expansion into the colony are the outcomes of the Industrial Revolution, which happened in the mid-19th century. With the fast growing rate of colonialism to gain power, gold and silver, it propelled the spread or investigated diseases in different parts of the world. Therefore, diseases like cholera, kuru and smallpox are the examples to prove the existing relationship between colonialism and disease. References Anderson, W. (2008). The collectors of lost souls: Turning kuru scientists into whitemen. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Read More