Western Medicine and Public Health Services in Jalpaiguri ( 1866 to 1947)

Abstract

cultural fixities of the victims. Acceptance of inhabitants' people's responses and reactions to the Western health system will be discussed. Establishing quarantines was the first expected reaction of the British administration during this epidemic. Special attention was paid to boats atTiving from cholera-infected areas. Both the land and waterways were also important in the colonial health and medicine history of Jalpaigun. Overland outposts were arranged with procedures and procurement of health sanitary systems. At the same time quarantine measmes in Jalpaiguri were designed to prevent the entry of cholera into the region through waterways because more people relied on water transport than overland routes. To guarantee control, all water systems that led to the town and villages were under the supervision of the authorities. Time, however. proved the ineffectiveness of quarantines. Finally, the chapter Medical Practitioners, Midwives, and Nurse.'i examines the activities of medical practitioners both locals and European. The indigenous dai system and a brief discussion on the Midwife's role in Jalpaiguri have been included in this chapter. The trained midwives were in great demand and were often hired by hospitals, nursing homes, municipalities, and health centers when necessary. In Jalpaiguri one of the most important institutions for training nurses and midwifery was Ramkrishna Ashram. Such training centers were attached to the Hospital in Jalpaiguri. These more experienced nurses played an important role in the spread of the Western medical system in Jalpaiguri. The last part of the thesis includes the observations and concluding remarks.