“Something Miraculous about Them”: ‘Indian Doctors’ and quacks in White Australia, 1880-1930

Abstract

Delving into the historical narrative of medicine in colonial India and Australia, this article sheds light on a neglected aspect: the role of ‘Indian doctors,’ encompassing oculists and hakims, practitioners of indigenous Indian medicine, within the Australian landscape. Often marginalized in discussions of migration patterns and colonial medical history, these ‘Indian doctors’ possess a rich history intricately interwoven with the complex networks of the British Empire. Drawing upon the insights of scholars who have highlighted the mobility of ‘Indian doctors’ in Britain and Australia, this article underscores their significant presence and impact during the period spanning from 1880 to 1930. Through an analysis of contemporary Australian newspaper reports, the article unveils the popular representations of these practitioners and explores their influence across both regional outposts and urban centres within the confines of White Australia. By bringing the stories of these oft-forgotten healers to the forefront, this article aims to enrich our understanding of colonial medical dynamics and transnational networks.