Response Paper 2: Race, Science, and Tropical Diseases
In this essay, the key learning area is how colonialism led to the development of racial science. The main focus is on how tropical diseases shaped the transition from racial theories, which are triggered by natural philosophy to racial biological theories. The primary materials utilized in this essay include “The Tender Frame of Man”: Disease, Climate, and Racial Difference in India and the West Indies, 1760-1860” by Mark Harrison and “Tropical Medicine’s Contribution to Colonial Racism” by Daniel Baron. Moreover, the final section looks at a contemporary article about the prevalence of tropical diseases today posted on the new scientist website.
“Unifying theme” in Harrison’s Article
In this section, the essay will try to explain what the author means when he states that the “unifying theme” of 18th century colonial medicine was “the distinctiveness of the tropical disease environment and its maladies.” Also, the essay will look into the significance of the scientific concepts of “acclimatization” and “seasoning” to European approaches to the tropical disease environment.
The unifying theme in the 18th century colonial medicine is that the nature of different illnesses is depended on different localities. This indicates that based on various climatic zones, different diseases are bound to be found in varied climatic conditions. European physicians tend to be convinced that tropical diseases are very distinct as their climatic conditions. An excellent example to show this is the opinion of Sir Hans and surgeon Robert Jackson who had a different experience in dealing with illnesses in different localities. Surgeon Jackson’s observation of the kind of diseases he treated in America and the West Indies made him stick to the opinion that tropical maladies are purely distinct. The surgeon also made efforts to try and amend what the medical schools in Britain were teaching because he has a vast experience. The definition supported his attempt for epidemic fever and endemic fever. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Surgeon Jackson received much support from the experiences of other physicians like John Hunter and James M’Cabe, who had worked in tropics. The cases they were dealing with were never taught in schools (Britain), but instead, they did diagnosis based on climate and surroundings. Severe cases needed a quick determination to reduce the number of fatalities. The medical theories taught in Europe need to come out transparent such that different situations are addressed differently. They need not generalize diagnosis because the experience of different physicians in tropics show that the methods they used in treating their patients were not taught during their medical classes.
Factors involved in the transition of scientific thought from the “Acclimatization” model to a biological model
The factors involved will be based on the concept that “disease transmission was a racial characteristic and indigenous populations were the source of problematic tropical diseases.” Acclimatization is the physical response to repeated stimulation to release when subjected to high heat conditions. This happened through the provision of a progressive reduction in physiological strain leading to improved heat tolerant. In other words, acclimatization is a state leading to enhanced body thermoregulatory capacity. The biological model is about adaptation, which is best defined by the ability to survive and function despite environmental stress.
The factors involved in scientific thought from the acclimatization model to the biological model include survival, healthy body functioning, and reproduction. When the Europeans colonized African countries, their body needed to adjust themselves for survival in the warmer climatic conditions (Elizabeth and Tait, 8037). The early medical practitioners, however, did not believe in this as they associated some illnesses with environmental conditions. They think that the creation of humans involved in different parents as polygenism theory claims does not support scientific thought. This is because humans are endotherms, meaning their internal operating body temperature is about 36.80C plus or minus 0.5. It also means the working temperature is minimally affected by ambient environmental temperatures.
The introduction of humans to new environments requires some time, so that adaptation for optimal body functioning to be attained. In Harrison’s article, the climatic conditions or the environment surrounding an individual plays a vital role in their physical appearance. This is because, in the acclimatization model, the body will tune itself to adapt to heat conditions. The scientific thought comes in that the adaptation will change the physical appearance biologically. In order to survive in a new environment, Armstrong justified that one needed seasoning. That is staying under such conditions for some time and completely changing the lifestyle. This is supported by the claim that ‘when you go high temperate climate like tropical Africa, there is need to eat meat so that the body increases oxygen absorption leading to tolerance in high heat, scorching sun.’
Scientific thought transition demands one to understand their surroundings because the human body is affected by the environment. This is supported by the fact that moving to a different climatic condition may lead to fever-like symptoms as the body tries to adapt to the new environment. The European too much time to research and confirm if North Australia was suitable for habitation. Scientific thoughts do not advocate for racism as biology has shown that investigating the cause of a disease, the population at risk of contracting it is paramount in looking for a long-lasting solution. It is easier to survive in climatic conditions that are relative to the current or the surrounding that one has stayed for a long time. However, some climatic conditions are never favorable to individual races. For instance, some illnesses are believed to exist in some regions but not in others. This could be as a result of the nature of the illness because if a disease is transmitted by specific parasite or virus whose habitat require particular climatic condition, exposing yourself to such regions will affect you.
Contemporary thinking about tropical diseases and their causes
In the recent past, there have been many initiatives that seek funding to address neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affecting the poor population (Nirmala, et al., 2115). However, with all this funding, the burden of NTDs remains high globally. The continued burden could be caused because of little or no research on the broad cause or determinant of these illnesses. This study proposed social offsetting in research so that we understand the diseases better. The model in the new scientist article that encourages research on NTDs reflects a contemporary approach to tropical diseases. The doctors are not aware of these diseases, making it difficult to deal with them (Lenore et al. 2009). For instance, Kristy Murray of Baylor College of Medicine, Texas, claims that she can recall an incident where a doctor told a patient consulting on these diseases that “The test results that you were given are wrong because that disease does not exist in the United States of America.”
According to Mansour (368), there exist many tropical diseases in both developed and developing nations. These are mainly associated with poverty because this is a condition that makes one expose themselves to environments where these diseases can be contracted. The thinking that certain diseases are associated with a particular group of people has dragged the efforts of initiatives whose existence seeks to offer a solution to NTDs (Mansour, 369). It is shocking to find out in the US; over three hundred thousand people are infected with Chagas.
Looking at statistics of infection by Toxocara canis, which is an intestinal worm, you find that a significant number of infected people are black Americans (Médecins, 2001. Since these are bona-fine citizens of the US, there is a need to look into this matter with urgency. Peter Hotez is saddened by the fact that impoverished Americans are at the risk of being infected by the NTDs. These account for about or more than fourteen million.
Most NTD initiatives primarily seek to encourage drug development for vulnerable populations (Lenore et al., 2009). This approach is not the best because certain groups suffer from unknown conditions and at a higher risk. They need to change this model and use offsetting social research to identify the causes of all conditions and especially diseases listed in the new scientist article. Most of these NTDs can be treated, but the crucial parties, including doctors, lack information to understand the conditions. There is a need for capacity building and increased research on NTDs so that doctors and nurses can help in eradication these illnesses globally.
When donors fund research relating to NTDs, there is a need to set aside a certain proportion of the funds to address related cases and the health system aspects on the same (Hotez, 2008). A little effort to support the production of new drugs is not enough in fighting the burden of NTDS. However, social offsetting in research on NTDs will significantly reduce globally because it offers an opportunity to determine the number of people infected and who is at risk of certain illnesses. In the US, the Obama care program can be a great avenue where the population checks various infections, and the health system looks for a solution to these problems. Research on NTDs can offer a solution to the world because the poor population either in developed or developing nations are faced with such illnesses.
In conclusion, there exist many tropical illnesses that are affecting the population. However, there exists little effort to curb its spread and burden globally. In order to attain sustainability in controlling NTDs could be in investment on social amenities, including good sanitation, clean water, and proper housing. This is because research has shown that NTDs are associated with poverty rather than climate change. The complementation of available initiatives that seek to obtain a solution for NTDs will be effective and feasible.
Work cited
Ravishankar, Nirmala, et al. “Financing of global health: tracking development assistance for health from 1990 to 2007.” The Lancet 373.9681 (2009): 2113-2124.
Yaïch, Mansour. “Investing in vaccines for developing countries: how public-private partnerships can confront neglected diseases.” (2009): 368-369.
Hotez, Peter J., et al. “The neglected tropical diseases of Latin America and the Caribbean: a review of disease burden and distribution and a roadmap for control and elimination.” PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2.9 (2008).
Sans Frontières, Médecins. “Fatal imbalance: the crisis in research and development for drugs for neglected diseases.” MSF, Geneva (2001).
Manderson, Lenore, et al. “Social research on neglected diseases of poverty: continuing and emerging themes.” PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 3.2 (2009).
Hanna, Elizabeth G., and Peter W. Tait. “Limitations to thermoregulation and acclimatization challenge human adaptation to global warming.” International journal of environmental research and public health 12.7 (2015): 8034-8074.