The laboratory and the village. The Algiers Pasteur Institute and "colonization physicians" in the fight against malaria (1904-1939).

From the late 19th century, some of the physicians settled in Algeria and teachers at the School of Medicine of Algiers sought to map the extent of malaria in order to propose prophylactic measures against a disease that was widespread in the countryside of the colony. When the fight against malaria was organized in Algeria at the beginning of the 20th century, under the joint direction of the General Government and the Pasteur Institute, the Institute researchers needed to gather various types of data for determining epidemic indexes and preparing action programmes. The so-called «colonization physicians», responsible for delivering healthcare to colonials and natives in rural districts since the 1850s, appeared to be appropriate collaborators with the administration in the campaigns. The organizers of these campaigns also worked with agents quininisateurs (quinine distributors) and those involved in anti-larval measures, as well as with agencies responsible for roads and bridges and for water services, among others. However, there were soon repeated calls for them to be trained in the new bacteriology techniques. Advanced courses were also proposed to allow these practitioners to act as true and effective agents of the anti-malarial service, such as the 34-day course organized in 1932 by the Pasteur Institute of Algeria.