Lexington Books Anglo-European Science and the Rhetoric of Empire: Malaria, Opium, and British Rule in India, 1756-1895

A fascinating and intricately woven tale of opium trade, evangelism, scientific discovery and political intrigue, Anglo-European Science and the Rhetoric of Empire: Malaria, Opium and British Rule in India 1756-1895 documents the contribution of a medical misconception to the preservation of British Rule in India. British authorities, desperate to shield the India-China Opium Trade from the escalating criticism of Christian evangelists and missionaries, endorsed the claim that opium prevented and cured malaria. This scientific validation of a vital source of revenue helped decimate the anti-opiumist movement, allowing the Indian government to vastly expand poppy cultivation in the name of both economic prosperity and public health. In this thoroughly researched and immensely readable history, author Paul Winther provides a revealing look at the complex and often unexpected negotiations that enable scientific authority to legitimize political and economic gain. Review This book is a contribution to such researches on the history of science, imperialism, and culture.--Pratik Chakrabarti, Univeristy of Oxford This very careful study is a valuable addition to our understanding of imperialism and to the history of medicine and science in British India.--Jack Hume, Professor of History, Saint Mary's College What Winther has given us, in this masterful work, is an incredibly useful and well-written treatise on the complexities of the whole story of opium and empire. It's difficult to imagine how any such work could be more comprehensive.--Hal W. French, Professor Emeritus, University of South Carolina About the Author Paul C. Winther is professor of anthropology at Eastern Kentucky University.