question_answer

What does the 1903 plague and the measures to control it. Tell us about French colonial attitude towards questions of health and hygiene? 

Answer:

                Plague is a disease caused by rats. In 1903, the modern part of Hanoi was struck by bubonic plague. The main cause for this was the increasing number of rats in large sewers in the modern part of the city. To control plague the French hired many Vietnamese workers and they were paid for each rat caught, by them. However, this proved beneficial to the Vietnamese workers as they were paid for each tail of the rat as a proof. This shows that the French attitude towards health and hygiene of the Vietnamese was hypocritical (i) The modern city with sewerage was made only where the French lived neglecting the old city areas where the Vietnamese lived. (ii) The activity of entering the sewers to catch the rats was given to the Vietnamese, without caring how their health would be affected.