Contribution of Green American Ceylon Missionarie’s Medical Activities In Jaffna (1816-1948) - A Historical Perspective

Abstract

The arrival of the British and the activities of the American missionaries introduced by them are of great importance in the growth of the medical field in Jaffna. Through the main objective of the visit of the American missionaries was religious propagation, they thought of engaging themselves in some welfare activities which could be used as means to win over the hearts of the people. It was at the background of this nation, that they started their medical services to the people of Jaffna. They provided western medical facilities to the people of Jaffna. Besides, they also created medical men from out of the Jaffna society and also gave them the necessary education and training, and achieved considerable success in their attempts, Dr. Green was one of those doctors sent to Jaffna to offer medical services. He may be pointed out as the doctor responsible for making western medical practices deep rooted in Jaffna. Through at the beginning, he produced doctors only through English medium, he succeeded later in producing western medical practitioners through Tamil medium as well. He did considerable amount of work towards the development of the Tamil language also. During his time, western medical institutions were set up at various places in Jaffna. The people of Jaffna though reluctant at the beginning for western treatment, began step by step to approach the hospitals of the missionaries. This research is based fully on an historical approach. Its main objectives include a comprehensive description of Dr. Green’s medical services, clarifying the social services encompassed in his medical works and also being a pioneer to future researchers in this field paving the way for them to continue such studies. Primary and secondary data have been used for the purpose of the research, primary data include references made by American missionaries, annual reports and books contemporarily published by the missionaries. The books and articles written at later times based on the primary data, and website data etc, have been used as secondary data. Thus it will be seen that the credit goes to Dr. Green who established the importance of western treatment in the minds of the people of Jaffna, who from times before the kings of Jaffna, had been used only to native methods of treatment. It could also be asserted that the foundation for western treatment in Jaffna was said through his activities.