[French colonial military medicine. A medical adventure of three quarters of a century (1890-1968)].

The French colonial medicine lasted from 1890 to 1968 in the tropical countries of Africa, Asia and America. The Medical Doctors and Pharmacists went from the military schools of Bordeaux and Lyon and worked upon 11 millions km2 to fight against the big endemic and contagious scourges within the local populations. Beside an itinerant medicine, some medical posts were created in the bush and some hospitals were built in the towns. Later some autochthonous schools were created and became Faculties of Medicine. 14 institutes of Pasteur made up the organisation. As the Medical Doctors and the Pharmacists were military they participated in the two World Wars and the colonial wars. As the product of an epoch, the colonial M.D. was also, the consequence of the ambiguity of his civilian and military status.