Race, science and medicine 1700-1960

摘要: This is an eclectic collection of essays on the intersections between race, science, and medicine over two-and-one-half centuries. The case studies focus British imperialism (with one exception, "A Virulent Strain: German Bacteriology as Scientific Racism, 1890-1920," by Paul Weindling). Waltraud Ernst in introductory essay presents papers a look at "heterogeneity racial discourses," "the diversity thinkers," variety perspectives," "differences tenor scientific debates," different social political forces" (p. 7). all very true. There are good collection, readers will find their own favorites. It harder, however, to organizing principle, or ideal group readers. address general theme relation culture biology and, rightly points out, "racial discourses work well not despite logical inconsistencies, ambiguities mixing up premises but because them [italics original]" However, effort frame questions, order underscore shared for essays, unfortunately remains only general. (Asking "important question whether binary distinctions . can legitimately be sustained" [p. 6] seems me elicit possible answer, answer that became consensus long ago.) In publishing book library edition (at $90) Routledge ensures it selected readership. first Norris Saakwa-Mante, "Western Medicine Racial Constitutions: [End Page 150] Surgeon John Atkins' Theory Polygenism Sleepy Distemper 1730s," underscores racialization disease eighteenth century. was part result technological changes (the development global travel) initial understanding early epidemiology. Race theory shown have been closely related sleeping sickness, polygenism later craniometry. From there follows rough chronological order, tracing invention term Caucasian relating improbable biblical exegesis source data (H. F. Augstein), followed colonial psychiatry India (Waltraud Ernst) Africa (Harriet Deacon). These informative which add our particular cases. One interesting appears more less explicit various issue hybridity, concept has become popular postcolonial studies. Here explored blurring also class categories: wealth diminished distance, while poverty increased it. analyzed interestingly David Arnold Bengal, "'An Ancient Outworn': Malaria Colonial India, 1860-1930." concludes race shaped class; thus inferiority ranking could either reinforced challenged depending correlation class. Deacon, analogously, shows African asylum place where stereotypes were likely (somewhat) enforced. Mark Jackson writing Down syndrome, Michael Worboys tuberculosis, Weindling bacteriology inject into relatively known stories examine how these histories change result. TB research did support rejection racism two world wars, though open avenues--in with regard immune system--that emphasized environmental changes. begins imperialist turn century (1900) Koch his followers science. Yet from 1890s First World War racist construction benign, compared developments "virulent hostility." Mathew Thomson traces decline interest psychology Britain claims influence alternative modernist remained important. Those larger described Bernard Harris "Pro-Alienism, Anti-Alienism Medical Profession Late-Victorian Edwardian Britain." Harris's aim illuminate pro-alien sentiments, given anti-immigrationism subject extensive literature. Especially this evidence adduced pro-immigrationists regarding relative health aliens, often superior English poor, significance environment education improving health.