WHITE RACE IN THE TROPICS — WARD 569 



in Java, from 13 per thousand in the 1870's to less than 1 per thou- 

 sand in the 1880's, a decrease attributed to the avoidance of con- 

 taminated water as the result of the use of artesian wells. 



The mortality rate of tlie British Army in India has fallen from 

 over 80 per thousand in the early decades of the nineteenth century, 

 successively, in later periods, to under GO, under 20, under 10, and even 

 to 5 in the most recent years. In Ceylon, reckoned as one of the most 

 unhealthy stations, the rate was over 110 and is now about 7. In 

 western equatorial Africa, formerly known as " the white man's 

 grave," the terrible fi«i;ure of earlier years lias fallen to a fraction of 

 the former rate. Such statistics are clear proofs of the notable 

 triumphs of medical science and of military orjranization. In many 

 former wars, for one victim claimed by a bullet, an arrow, or a spear, 

 four or five victims, even perhaps nine or ten, were claimed by disease. 

 The records of the Crimean War and of the Boer War furnished 

 striking evidence of this fact. Our own record in the war with Spain 

 was not one to be proud of. Encouraging as is this remarkable re- 

 duction in tropical death rates, it should be observed that, as the 

 Indian Medical Record pointed out some years ago, " The lowered 

 death rate in hot countries is not evidence in favor of acclimatization, 

 but, on the contrary, it shows that this low rate is only reached after 

 the taking of most elaborate precautions. It is rather a proof of the 

 inability of the white race to colonize in the Tropics, i. e., to labor and 

 undergo exposure there. It is absurd to say that a reduced death 

 rate, directly due to the careful avoidance of every possilile exposure, 

 is an evidence that such exposure can be endured." Furthermore, it 

 is but natural that large numbers of white soldiers, and of civilians 

 also, are if possible invalided home to cooler climates as soon as it is 

 discovered that recovery will be slow, or difficult, in the Tropics. It 

 thus results that many invalids, in cases where they do not recover, 

 have died on the voyage back, or at home, and their deaths do not 

 figure in the tropical death rates. I have seen statistics, authority 

 for which I am unable to give, that in a fairly recent year the death 

 rate among a certain group of European troops invalided home, or 

 discharged, was over 50 per thousand. 



In general, as I see it, no statistics of tropical mortality can be a 

 true index of health conditions there for the reason that many tropical 

 diseases, not necessarily or highly fatal, leave their victims in a 

 weakened and debilitated condition. In addition to those who die of 

 disease, there are many who become wrecks of their former selves and 

 are unable to carry on. The economic loss resulting from this condi- 

 tion is necessarily a very great handicap. 



In considering tropical diseases in relation to acclimatization, the 

 thought inevitably ari.ses in one's mind whether, with the eventual 

 elimination and eradication of the major tropical diseases, the prob- 



