ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the bodily experiences of those who inhabit or traverse border regions are often shaped by the forces of power and domination that give form to the territorial borders themselves. Various mechanisms have been deployed nominally to inhibit the spread of disease: health inspections at border crossings, though these are relatively uncommon, spraying the interior of aeroplanes with disinfectant on arrival at a foreign port, or by requiring medical certification to confirm that certain vaccinations and innoculations have been carried out prior to departure. Entrance may be refused to those suspected of ‘carrying’ infectious disease, or a period of quarantine imposed before entry is granted, practices which become highly charged politically if thought to be directed at a specific category of prospective entrant. In Britain, for instance, fear of rabies and foot-and-mouth disease has long justified the rigorous inspection of imported cattle and sheep, as well as a six-month period of quarantine for domestic pets.
