MALARIA AND RACIAL EXTINCTION
1
1225 MALARIA AND RACIAL EXTINCTION FROM time to time historians have invoked the spread of malaria to explain the decline of human populations. Usually the changes in question have taken place so long ago that this hypothesis is not susceptible of proof. But on another page of this issue will be found a remarkable paper by Dr. A. J. COPELAND which contains evidence that within the last few years certain of the peoples in North Borneo have begun to fall victims to this fate. There are two native races in North Borneo, each numbering rather less than 30,000: the Dusuns, an agricultural, rice-growing people, inhabiting the more open higher lands ; and the Muruts, who inhabit the jungles at lower levels and live mainly by hunting. Whereas the Dusuns are on the whole a thriving race whose numbers are on the increase, the Murut population has been falling steadily during the past eight years, and Dr. J. G. CAMPBELL is quoted as stating that " unless given systematic and energetic medical aid " this race is " doomed to slow but inevitable extinction." The decline of the Muruts is ascribed by COPELAND to malaria. The village headmen state that there have been more cases of fever in recent years ; there have undoubtedly been extensive clearances of jungle ; and the imported Javanese labourers are believed to have brought with them strains of malaria parasite, particularly subtertian strains, to which the Muruts are not accustomed. A prima-facie case is made out in favour of this view. It is regrettably true that after all these years new land in the tropics is still recklessly opened up by planters or engineers without con- sulting the malariologists ; and thereby their employees and the local population are often needlessly exposed to malaria. There are, how- ever, some missing links in Dr. CO]PELAND’S chain of evidence which must be filled in before his theory can be regarded as fully proved. The official vital statistics which he quotes, showing death-rates as low as 14 or 15 per 1000, can hardly be taken as accurate. And then it is generally believed, though the relevant facts are extraordinarily hard to obtain, that hyperendemic malaria reduces the population by causing heavy infantile mortality ; whereas COPELAND seems to attribute the reduction in the numbers of children chiefly to a lower birth- rate. Nor is there any evidence, though it is certainly likely, that recent clearances have in fact favoured the dangerous species of anophelines. The decrease in native populations is often due to subtle influences of an imponderable psycho- logical character. Some races seem unable to thrive in contact with advancing civilisation ; and this inability is apt to be more pronounced in a hunting than in an agricultural people. Such a failure of adaptation is the most probable cause of the decline, for example, of the Sakais of Malaya. Dr. COPELAND’S thesis is nevertheless suggestive,. and clearly demands examination. His paper gives a vivid picture of how medical work is carried on by a sympathetic medical officer among primi- tive peoples, and it incidentally illustrates once more the propagandist value of yaws treatment in popularising western medicine. To improve the malaria situation he encountered he proposes the wholesale distribution of quinine, and certainly the present issue is hopelessly inadequate ; but it would be unduly optimistic to expect native villagers to take enough quinine to eradicate the disease. However popular the remedy, quinine treatment would have to be associated with a study of the mode of life of the Muruts, with a view to inculcating habits of clearing, housing, and living which will do something to preserve them from malarial infection. And it is to be hoped that Dr. COPELAND’S observations will stimulate the Government of North Borneo to undertake work along these lines. ANNOTATIONS INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH, OXFORD UNIVERSITY THE statute establishing an Institute for Medical Research at Oxford, recently approved by Congre- gation, represents the latest development of a scheme which had its origin about five years ago. At that time Lord Nuffield-then Sir William Morris-bought the whole of the Observatory grounds and buildings from the Radcliffe Trustees for the sum of JE 100,000 and handed them over to a body of trustees, called the Morris Trustees, for the joint benefit of the Radcliffe Infirmary and the university medical school. It was indicated in the trust deed that the greater part of the land was to be used for the needs of the infirmary and for such extension of that institution as from time to time might become necessary. On the other hand, the Observatory buildings, the Observer’s house, and a considerable area of surrounding land was assigned to the univer- sity for the purpose of promoting clinical research. The trustees also had in mind the possibility in the future of a ward, devoted to clinical research, which could be brought under the general administration of the infirmary in regard to its upkeep and nursing, with the proviso that it should not become an addi- tional expense nor a source of profit to the institution. In order that the university should take advantage of the opportunity and accommodation provided by Lord Nuffield’s great generosity, a scheme for the establishment of a Medical Research Institute was drawn up by the board of the faculty of medicine. The university has shown its desire and willingness to assist the scheme officially by providing the sum of Y,1000 per annum until such time as the institute is sufficiently endowed to run on its own resources. The board of the faculty of medicine have agreed that a recent bequest amounting to 30,000, generously made to the university by the late Mrs. Theodore Williams, should be used for endowment, and there are smaller sums available from other sources. Lord Nuffield has shown his interest and further generosity by offering to help towards the expense of altering and equipping the Observatory building for its new purposes. The Observatory buildings become vacant in June and it is intended to use them for two lines of research-namely, therapeutics and X ray cine-
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Transcript of MALARIA AND RACIAL EXTINCTION
1225
MALARIA AND RACIAL EXTINCTIONFROM time to time historians have invoked the
spread of malaria to explain the decline of humanpopulations. Usually the changes in questionhave taken place so long ago that this hypothesisis not susceptible of proof. But on another pageof this issue will be found a remarkable paper byDr. A. J. COPELAND which contains evidence thatwithin the last few years certain of the peoples inNorth Borneo have begun to fall victims to thisfate. There are two native races in North Borneo,each numbering rather less than 30,000: the
Dusuns, an agricultural, rice-growing people,inhabiting the more open higher lands ; and theMuruts, who inhabit the jungles at lower levelsand live mainly by hunting. Whereas the Dusunsare on the whole a thriving race whose numbersare on the increase, the Murut population has beenfalling steadily during the past eight years, andDr. J. G. CAMPBELL is quoted as stating that" unless given systematic and energetic medicalaid " this race is " doomed to slow but inevitableextinction." The decline of the Muruts is ascribed
by COPELAND to malaria. The village headmenstate that there have been more cases of fever inrecent years ; there have undoubtedly beenextensive clearances of jungle ; and the importedJavanese labourers are believed to have broughtwith them strains of malaria parasite, particularlysubtertian strains, to which the Muruts are notaccustomed.A prima-facie case is made out in favour of this
view. It is regrettably true that after all these
years new land in the tropics is still recklesslyopened up by planters or engineers without con-sulting the malariologists ; and thereby their
employees and the local population are often
needlessly exposed to malaria. There are, how-ever, some missing links in Dr. CO]PELAND’S chain ofevidence which must be filled in before his theory
can be regarded as fully proved. The official vitalstatistics which he quotes, showing death-rates aslow as 14 or 15 per 1000, can hardly be taken asaccurate. And then it is generally believed,though the relevant facts are extraordinarily hardto obtain, that hyperendemic malaria reduces thepopulation by causing heavy infantile mortality ;whereas COPELAND seems to attribute the reductionin the numbers of children chiefly to a lower birth-rate. Nor is there any evidence, though it is
certainly likely, that recent clearances have infact favoured the dangerous species of anophelines.The decrease in native populations is often dueto subtle influences of an imponderable psycho-logical character. Some races seem unable tothrive in contact with advancing civilisation ; andthis inability is apt to be more pronounced in ahunting than in an agricultural people. Such afailure of adaptation is the most probable causeof the decline, for example, of the Sakais of Malaya.
Dr. COPELAND’S thesis is nevertheless suggestive,.and clearly demands examination. His papergives a vivid picture of how medical work is carriedon by a sympathetic medical officer among primi-tive peoples, and it incidentally illustrates oncemore the propagandist value of yaws treatment inpopularising western medicine. To improve themalaria situation he encountered he proposes thewholesale distribution of quinine, and certainlythe present issue is hopelessly inadequate ; but itwould be unduly optimistic to expect native
villagers to take enough quinine to eradicate thedisease. However popular the remedy, quininetreatment would have to be associated with a
study of the mode of life of the Muruts, with aview to inculcating habits of clearing, housing,and living which will do something to preservethem from malarial infection. And it is to be
hoped that Dr. COPELAND’S observations willstimulate the Government of North Borneo toundertake work along these lines.
ANNOTATIONS
INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH, OXFORDUNIVERSITY
THE statute establishing an Institute for MedicalResearch at Oxford, recently approved by Congre-gation, represents the latest development of a schemewhich had its origin about five years ago. At thattime Lord Nuffield-then Sir William Morris-boughtthe whole of the Observatory grounds and buildingsfrom the Radcliffe Trustees for the sum of JE 100,000and handed them over to a body of trustees, calledthe Morris Trustees, for the joint benefit of theRadcliffe Infirmary and the university medicalschool. It was indicated in the trust deed that thegreater part of the land was to be used for the needsof the infirmary and for such extension of thatinstitution as from time to time might becomenecessary. On the other hand, the Observatorybuildings, the Observer’s house, and a considerablearea of surrounding land was assigned to the univer-sity for the purpose of promoting clinical research.The trustees also had in mind the possibility in thefuture of a ward, devoted to clinical research, whichcould be brought under the general administration
of the infirmary in regard to its upkeep and nursing,with the proviso that it should not become an addi-tional expense nor a source of profit to the institution.In order that the university should take advantageof the opportunity and accommodation providedby Lord Nuffield’s great generosity, a scheme forthe establishment of a Medical Research Institutewas drawn up by the board of the faculty of medicine.The university has shown its desire and willingnessto assist the scheme officially by providing the sumof Y,1000 per annum until such time as the instituteis sufficiently endowed to run on its own resources.The board of the faculty of medicine have agreedthat a recent bequest amounting to 30,000, generouslymade to the university by the late Mrs. TheodoreWilliams, should be used for endowment, and thereare smaller sums available from other sources.
Lord Nuffield has shown his interest and further
generosity by offering to help towards the expenseof altering and equipping the Observatory buildingfor its new purposes.The Observatory buildings become vacant in
June and it is intended to use them for two lines ofresearch-namely, therapeutics and X ray cine-
