Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine malaria in colonial Taiwan as a 'developo-genic disease', from the viewpoint of environmental history. GIS was used as a tool to elevate the level of statistical analysis and the epidemiological structure of malaria was analysed both at regional levels and over the island as whole in order to ascertain the extent to which economic development was linked to the incidence of malaria. In addition to forest development, this study analysed the environmental changes caused by large-scale irrigation works, particularly in Tainan county, and the consequences for malaria, an aspect not fully covered by previous research. From a comprehensive examination of statistics for illness and death, it was possible to indicate the likelihood of a close relationship of cause and effect between economic development and malaria. This case study has added a new example of the complex relationship between development and disease, and also adds insights to the role of Japanese imperial medicine
