Page 10 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

2 • ADMINISTRATION RETORT ON THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL
Public Health and Measure* to prevent the Introduction of Plague and
Cholera into the Persian Gulf.—Tho past season has not been altogether a
healthy one, as plague appeared at Bushire, and there were severe outbreaks
of cholera during the summer at Gwadur and Maskat, to both of which places
the disease appeared to have been brought from Karachi, where it appeared in
a severe form in May, June, and July. Subsequently cholera broke out at
Basrah, and reports were received of occasional cases in various parts of
Arabistnn. It has disappeared entirely in this part of the Gulf, and no cases
occurred at Bushire itself, but it still lingers on the Oman Coast. Plague was
discovered at Bushire in the beginning of June, and there is reason to think
that theve were several cases before that, as the death-rate was considerably
above normal during the time that it is supposed to have been present.
It will be seen from the statement.given in the margin that for the month
of June the reported deaths, from all
In June 1899 there were . . E3 death*.
July . . . . 87 causes, were 53, that in July thoy had
Aocaat • • • . 81 „ fallen to 37, and in August to 31. In the
September • • 40
October . •. 41 three succeeding mouths there was a slight
November . • , 40 rise, probably due to change of season,
December . • • 86
January . • • . » „ and fever in consequence; but in Janu­
February . . • • 18 ,, ary and February, the number of deaths
fell again, and the average death-rate for Bushire appears to be about 34- per
mensem, or 408 per annum, which, as the population of Bushire is supposed to
be about 20,000' souls, gives an annual death-rate of 21 per mille. These
figures are only approximate and not reliable, no census haying ever been
taken, and all deaths certainly not being reported. The information we now
have will, however, probably be useful in future, should any abnormal rise in
the death-rate indicate the presence of plague or other disease. The summer
heat put an end to the plague, of which no suspected cases have been heard of
since the middle of July, aud Bushire was formally declared free of plague on
the 27th August last.
There was a good deal of sickness in Bushire amongst Europeans towards
the close of the hot weather, and several cases of fever of a malignant type
occurred. There were, however, no deaths amongst adults except in the case
of Mr. Campbell, Manager of the Imperial Bank of Persia, who succumbed to
an attack of fever on the 12th September. Mr. Campbell's early death was a
great loss to the small European community of Bushire.
Plague Bio's at flu*hire.—When the Residency Surgeon discovered early
in June that plague had appeared in Bushire, be recommended that measures
should be taken with the object of stopping its spread, and, if possible, stamp­
ing it out in those quarters where it had already gained a footing. Captain
Rainier, I.M.S., and two Assistant Surgeons were deputed from India to assist
in the preparation of a scheme and in its execution, if approved, by the Persian
Government. The knowledge of these measures* while in contemplation,
excited considerable opposition among the Muhammadan population of the place,
and at the end of July, an organized demonstration was got up to oppose them.
The people closed their shops, and assembled daily in the mosques, while they
were harangued by the Mollas. Some ill-feeling was shewn against sueh
members of the Residency as were supposed to be taking an active part in
forwarding plague measures, and at length this feeling took the form of a
demonstration being made against the Residency itself, by a party of boys and
lads led by a few well known unruly characters, who had fomented the opposition
to plague measures in the hope of obtaining plunder for themselves. The
mob were dispersed by the Governor, who subsequently punished the leaders in
various ways. Preventive measures for keeping plague out of Bushire have been
throughout in hands of Captain E. Wickham flore, I.M.8., who has done his
utmost to have them efficiently carried out, in accordance with the spirit of the
Venice Convention. A disinfector, with a disinfecting apparatus, has been
obtained from Bombay, but there has been considerable delay in its erection,
and, though it arrived at the end of September, it is not yet working. This
delay is partly due to the views expressed by the Governor, who seemed doubt­
ful, at first, if its erection would not lead to further disturbances. The structure
on the quarantine island, where the machine will be worked, is now nearly