Future structure of clinical tropical medicine in the United Kingdom.

A century ago, and less, the practice of clinical tropical medicine was largely dominated by physicians and surgeons from the United Kingdom. Latterly, the position has changed dramatically.' The Empire and the Raj have faded into past history, most former colonial territories have gained independence, and most developing tropical countries now undertake the training of physicians and surgeons in their own medical schools. Despite these developments, the structure of clinical tropical medicine in the United Kingdom has remained essentially unchanged, and it is timely to review the current position and to attempt to decide what should best be done for the future. Changes have been made in the non-clinical areas that have long dominated the tropical schools of the United Kingdom; in the clinical area there has been stagnation with a resulting loss of a sense of direction.