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JOUKNAL, E.A.S. (OEYLON). [Vol. IX. 



A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY 

 OF CEYLON. 



By J. L. Vanderstraaten, m.d. 



Principal, Ceylon Medical College. 



(Head Nov. 18, 1886.) 



Introduction. 



As I am to deal with a subject which is somewhat special, 

 it is my natural desire, in expectation of meeting a mixed 

 assembly, that my treatment of the contents of this Paper 

 should be such as to prove interesting and instructive to non- 

 professional as well as professional persons. To the profes- 

 sional part of my audience, the medical annals of this Island 

 cannot but be replete with interest ; and I trust that my 

 other hearers will derive some useful information from an 

 attempt to give an account of diseases which have prevailed 

 in this country from the earliest period of which we have 

 any record, the progress made by European medicine, and of 

 the improvement in the sanitary condition of this Island 

 effected during the present century. 



Although the inhabitants of this beautiful Island have had 

 a fair share of the " ills that flesh is heir to," it is satisfactory 

 to know that the efforts which have been made by the officers 

 of the Medical Service of this Colony, under the direction of 

 an enlightened and beneficent Government, and by local 

 self-governing bodies, for the improvement of the health of 

 the people, have, through the blessing of a merciful Provi- 

 dence, been crowned with a great measure of success. 



It is not my purpose to give you statistical details : these 

 might add greatly to the value of the information contained 

 in this Paper, but would detract from its interest. I 

 shall merely give a statement of facts : and in taking a rapid 

 glance at our past medical history, I will, in the first place, 



