Abstract: As a tool for the British Empire to maintain its rule,the tropical medicine emerged in 1898,which was marked by the establishment of the schools of Tropical Medicine in London and Liverpool. The development of tropical medicine is closely related to the prevention and treatment of tropical diseases during the expansion period of the British Empire. In the early 20th century,British colonial secretary Joseph Chamberlain and medical experts took a series of measures to prevent and treat tropical diseases in the British West Africa,including anti-mosquito campaigns,public health reforms and housing segregation,which achieved certain effects and improved the condition of the disease epidemic in British West Africa. In 1939,with the outbreak of World War Ⅱ,the prevention and treatment of tropical diseases was suspended.

Key words: British West Africa, tropical medical schools, anti-mosquito campaigns, housing segregation