Measles epidemics of variable lethality in the early 20th century.

Until the mid-20th century, mortality rates were often very high during measles epidemics, particularly among previously isolated populations (e.g., islanders), refugees/internees who were forcibly crowded into camps, and military recruits.

Mineral wealth and medical opportunity.

With the increase in population and in colonial revenues after the discovery of diamonds and gold in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, public and private hospitals proliferated, particularly in larger centres such as Cape Town. The numbers of practitioners engaged in public health also increased. Perhaps as important, doctors were now accepted as skilled professionals and remunerated accordingly.

'Regularly licensed and properly educated practitioners': professionalisation 1860-1910.

This chapter explores the later professionalisation of medicine at the Cape, particularly after the discovery of diamonds and gold, when the number of doctors increased. As the demand for an improved public health system grew, and the Colonial Medical Committee was unable to cope with the more complex demands of the colony, legislation was gradually set in place to transform the practice of medicine. This legislation included a Public Health Act, improved censuses, the registration of births and deaths, and a more effective registration of nurses as well as doctors and pharmacists.

Medical practice in the Eastern Cape.

The Eastern Cape developed slightly different medical traditions from the Western Cape. The majority Xhosa population had healing practices of their own which they shared only partly with the Khoi, while Boer medical practice had become more remote from modern Western medicine. Missionary medicine was relatively undeveloped in this period but through the Grey Hospital the Governor, Sir George Grey, promoted Western medicine amongst Africans.

Opportunities outside private practice before 1860.

This chapter discusses the restrictions and opportunities which salaried employment offered Cape doctors in the pay of government and charitable organisations during the first two thirds of the nineteenth century. Although Cape doctors often acted as agents of the colonial state there were many nuances within this relationship. While military doctors played an important role in the profession during the first few decades of the century, by the 1840s civilian doctors were beginning to assert greater influence in Cape Town, if not yet in the Eastern Cape.