Page 36 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON TUB PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL
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* *. «ntwithstanding tbis great difference in the ratio per cent, of deaths to attacked in the
But notwit B b slight difference in the ratio p0r cent, of deaths to the
lW° PSulation ao that whilst in Maskat out of every hundred persons 2*7 died from
Sra in Matrah 3 out ol every hundred persons died from that cause. The greatest rate of
rUSuv in proportion to attacks was among the Persians who live principally in the suburb
3 Jb u Next to them in tho order of ratio per cent, of deaths to attacked come the Indian
Ifnhammadaos othor than Khojas, among whom, however, the attacks were eo few that it
nrnnld he unreasonable to compare their result with that of the attaoks among the other raoes,
‘ the game manner as it would be unfair to include in the comparison tho result of the two
solitary attaoks among the Hindus, whioh beside being eo few occurred at a stage of tho
snidemio when most of the oases recover. Just as the general ratio per cent, of deaths to
attacked compares favourably with that iu Maskat, so also do the rates of mortality among
the principal racial classes excepting tho Af deans who had 8 percent more deaths among
them in Matrah than in Maskat. The Arabs had only 366 per cent, of deaths against 63*1
percent in Maskat and the Baluchis 5 2'2 per oent. against 60*4- per cent, in Maskat. The
only reason that I can think of in explanation of this great difference is what I have already
cuezested above when dealing with the general cholera mortality in Matrah. In regard to
aoe and sex, the ratio per cent of deaths to attacked was much greater among children than in
aJults and also much greater among men than among women, which latter circumstance is
remarkable in the face of the fact that the attacks among men were fewer than among women.
It appears therefore, that the severity of the disease as indicated by tlfe rate of mortality
was much greater, as in Maskat, among men than among women.
In regard to the localities, the highest rate of mortality actually occurred in the suburb
of Jabru the original centre of infection, which is inhabited principally by tho two poorest classes
—the Mekrani Baluchis and Persian beggars, though the alarming rate of 100 per cent, is
shown against Matrah Harbour in the statement No. VI, which circumstance needs a little
explanation as it is likely to give an erroneous idea. The only three cases noted rs having
occurred in harbour were registered from information received when the dead bodies were
brought for burial on shore, but as there was no registration of cases occurring on board tbe
vessels in the harbour no information i6 available in regard to such cases as may have
recovered. Nazi Moya and Takia, two of tbe quarters of the town mostly occupied by
Africans, also show a very high rate of mortality, whilst the bazar and Kitleh quarters and
tbe Khoja fort, in each of which the ratio of deaths to attacked was only 25 per cent., show
the lowest rate of mortality. In the case of the Khoja fort it may be noted that beside being
inhabited by a community in good circumstances, all the cases in it were under my direct
treatment.
A6 no account of the mode of treatment of cholera adopted by the Arabs of Oman has
hitherto been given, I think that a short note on
Treatment.
the subject may not be considered out of place here.
Actual cautery, the great Arab panacea, occupies, as may be expected, a foremost place
in tbe treatment of cholera in the same way as it does now in the treatment of plague, and
the instrument generally used in carrying out this therapeutic measure is as primitive in its
conception as the measure itself. A small sickle, such as gardeners use, is heated in the fire,
and with its back two lines, each about two inches in length, are marked out horizontally,
one a little above the navel and the other a little below it; a similar line is then marked
antero-posteriorly on tbe top of the head in its middle. It would seem as if the Arabs are
practically aware of tbe beneficial effects of acids in cholera, for soon after the above operation
of branding, a draught composed of the juice of three or four fresh limes, about two drachms
and a half of the powder of dried tatar leaves (Zataria muUiJlora), a pinchful of charcoal ashes
aud a little water i6 given to drink; when fresh 'rimes are not procurable, dried limes are
pounded with a little water and substituted for them. Following tbis Arab idea, I fouad the
administration of the juice of fresh limei mixed with a little water and sugar as often as the
patient required it, a very agreeable and beneficial remedy for the intense thirst present in
the early stage of the disease. The tatar in the draught acts as an aromatic and carminative,
but I fail to see the value of ashes; in fact I should thiuk that the ashes would partly
neutralize the acidity cf the juice of limes. This draught is repeated after every evacuation
until five or six doses are given. Sherbet made with rose-water is given repeatedly and in
Urge quantities to quench thirst, and when at the end of the evacuation stage, great restless­
ness and sense of burning in the stomach supervene, repeated bathing in cold water, even in
tbe stage of collapse, is resorted to. For suppression of urine the most oommon remedy is a
decoction of the leaves and broken pieces of the stem of gawzalan known to tbe Arabs by the
name c£ litan-vthihowr (Catcinta glavca) made by boiling about three drachms and m half
of the drug in 7 ounces of water, which dose is repeated, if necessary, after two hours.
Another common remedy for suppression of urine is a cold poultice made of the fresh bruised
leaves and ^^kranebes the lucerne plant and a little common salt, which is applied over
the region of the bladder and kept there for about two hours. Sitting in hot water is also
occasionally resorted to for causing the flow of urine, and arhulkeef (essence of the male
flowers of the date*palm) made by boiling the flowers in water is administered internally in
doses of about two ounces and a half, either alone or mixed with water, for relieving the
burning sensation in the stomach. During the recent epidemic civet was also employed as a
remedy for suppression Oi urine, a little of it being applied to the meatus urinarius.