Between Miasmas and Microbes: French Military Doctors in Dahomey (1889–1904)

Abstract

This article focuses on the work of French Army doctors deployed in Dahomey, a region that corresponds to present-day Benin. The chronological boundaries of this article begin with the conquest of the territory (1890–1894) and end in 1904 with its integration into the federal government of French West Africa. At that time, the microbial paradigm (germ theory) was ascendant and leading to important discoveries, notably that of the role played by mosquitoes in the spread of malaria. Nevertheless, the influence of miasma theories still persisted in medical circles. These considerations lead us to examine the contribution of medical knowledge during the colonization of Dahomey, just as the richness of intercultural exchanges prompts us to consider the dynamics of sharing with regard to medical knowledge. It is therefore mainly from this perspective that this article aims to study hospital structures, medical staff, sanitary equipment, theoretical representations of African diseases, and experimentation with therapeutic practices.