Rudolf Fisch

In Ghana, Fisch pioneered the application of prophylaxis for Malaria and founded the Blue Cross (originally named “Anidaho Fekuw” translated as “The Temperance Movement”)[3] with a core mission of fighting against alcoholism and other substances.

In addition, Fisch was a well known author contributing to Archiv für Schiffs- und Tropenhygiene, a German medical journal focused on tropical medicine, maritime health, and hygiene.

[5] Rudolf Fisch began his missionary work in 1885 when he arrived at Aburi on the Gold Coast, then a British Colony (now Ghana), with two chests of medical instruments and drugs.

Fisch began daily consultation hours from 2 to 5 pm,[4] treating a wide range of cases, from leprosy and mental illness to injuries and tropical diseases.

[4] Broader economic and social changes, including the expansion of cacao farming, gold mining, and infrastructure developments like roads and railways influenced the success of the mission hospital.

[6] In 1909, the medical team in Aburi expanded with the arrival of surgeon Theodor Müller, who, alongside Dr. Fisch,[7] increased the hospital's surgical capacity to over 400 operations annually.

The book focused on exploring the causes, progression, prevention, and treatment of "the four most prevalent diseases in Africa," which included malaria, dysentery, and conditions affecting the liver and spleen.

Within the book, Fisch proposed that malaria was caused by parasitic protozoa, as identified by Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran in 1880, and simultaneously emphasized the role of environmental factors like soil, humidity, and human activity in its proliferation.

Tropische Krankheiten functioned not only as a medical guide but also as evidence of how emerging bacteriological theories were intertwined with established ideas about the role of climate and environment in disease prevention.

One article published by Albert Plehn, a German physician who worked in Cameroon, in the archive in 1900 highlighted Fisch’s research findings on quinine prophylaxis to promote its widespread use among European settlers in tropical colonies.

[4] Fisch also engaged in prominent medical debates within the Archiv, notably challenging Robert Koch’s theory that black water fever resulted from "quinine poisoning."

In a response article, Fisch argued that most cases of black water fever occurred in individuals who rarely used quinine, thus defending the drug's use as an essential preventive measure.