Page 356 - PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORTS V1

103 ADMINISTRATION RKFORT OF THE FKRSIAN GULP POLITICAL RESIDENCY
Rheumatism,—The acute form of articular rheumatism is almost
unknown, but chronic forms and muscular rheumatism arc very common.
Both the Arabs and Scdecs seem to be more subject to the latter than
any other class.
Phthisis Puhnonalis is very common amongst the Khojias, Abys.
sinians and the mixed Abyssinian and Arab race. The Khojias are more
or less disposed to be scrofulous, and under the influence of overcrowding,
bad ventilation, and constant intermarriages, a deposit of tulwrcular
matter takes place most readily in the lungs and at a very early a^.
Amongst the Abyssinians the great hereditary and almost national tafnt
exhibits itself about the age of puberty or shortly afterwards, under the
circumstances of exilic aud certain moral conditions mentioned before.
Bronchitis, is a common disease, due principally to atmospheric
changes and exposure.
Pammonia occurs only during the cold season as an occasional
complication of remittent fever or from exposure to the cold and damp
wind from the north. Spasmodic asthma comes occasionally under obser­
vation, but is by no means a common disease.
Organic diseases of the heart and large Hood vessels are very
uncommon; but functional palpitation of the heart is occasionally
observed amongst the ancemic and hysterical Arab and Khojia females.
Dyspepsia, Colic, and Diarrhoea are rather common, partly due to
the presence of on excess of limesalts in the water, and partly to con­
stipation which often gives rise to a form of diarrheea. Amongst the
parasitic diseases of the intestines, thread-worms and round-worms are
wry common, especially amongst the Khojia children. The tape-worm
has hitherto been observed only amongst the Bedouin Arabs, but is not
by any means a common disease with them.
Ilumorrhoidcs is a very common complaint, especially with the
higher classes of Arabs, who generally lead a sedentary life.
Diseases of the liver.—Chronic congestion and enlargement due to
the effects of the malarial poison is rather common, but both simple and
suppurative inflammation are very uncommon. Abscess of the Liver
also is very rare.
Hypertrophy of the spleen is very common at Muttrah and in the
interior, probably arising from the introduction of malaria into the
system through the ageucy of drinking water.
Diseases of the kidney and bladder aro very rare, and. calculus
vesieoe almost unknown. In the cases of stone that sometimes come
under observation, the disease has generally commenced in some other
country or in some other part of Arabia.
Diseases of the brain and insanity are very rare. Insolalio occur*
princijially amongst the Banians, not as the result of direct exposure to.
the rays of the sun, but from the effects of the dry rarefied and hot mr
which exists at the time of a dry shamal, the disease being greatly
favored by the almost total want of ventilation in their houses and
shops. I am told that the disease amongst them is not now nearly *o
common as it used to be, nor is it so.fatal.