Page 186 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

104 Part II.
suitable plnco for his permanent residence. The result was that Basrah was
deprived of its surgeon.
294,. Basrah is the port of Turkish Arabia and has been long the head­
quarters- of four or live European firms. It is an unhealthy station compared
with Baghdad. Yet for nearly three quarters of a century, it was allowed to
remain without a competent medical ollieor. The urgency of a need of proper
medical aid -was not brought home to tho Government of India, until tho death
of Mr. llobcrtson aud his two children of cholera in August 1889. Captain
Bavortshaw, then in his letter No. 7, dated
KxUrnal A., Auguii 1890. Nob. 100-125.
7th June 1890, to Colonel Twcedie, strongly
urged’tho need of somo arrangements beiug made for at once for providing
Basrah with a good medical man. Tho
(1) Muir*. Gray MxcVcniio and Co.
(2) Mriirt. Darby Andrew* ami Co. several firms in Basrah also submitted a
(3) Mcurt. Lynch Brother*.
(4) Porsian Gulf Trading Co. representation in the matter and offered to
(6) Mniri, lioti and Co pay a contribution to meet tho cost.
295. Colonel Tweedic submitted the correspondence with a strong recom­
mendation and also brought to tho notice of Government that Captain Ilaven-
shaw having had a fall had been laid up with an injury to his knee joint, had
wired for Doctor Bowman to he sent. But Colonel 'Iweedie wired hack to say
that Doctor Bowman could net leave and but that he could send the
apothecary of the Comet (who was not wanted) or if Captain Ravenshaw pre­
ferred he could visit Baghdad or Bushirc (which he could not do, being unable
to leavo his bed). So Baghdad had its revengo for Basrah’s migracious conduct
when Mr. Harford Jones fell ill at Baghdad in 1800, and was referred the
attendance of tho surgeon of the Basrah Agency in 1S9J.
296. It was now clear that Basrah needed a doctor of its own, and while the
Government of India’s Medical Department was at its wit’s ends to find a
Civil Surgeon for the place, the mercantile community found a competent
medical man in Dr. Marcus Eustace, M. A., M. D., etc., etc., with whom they
entered into an agreement for his services for two years at Basrah on payment
of certain annual allowances from tho several European firms.
297. The Government of India were also asked by the firms for financial
support, and sanctioned an allowance of Rs. 100 a month to Dr. Eustace for
medical attendance on Government servants at Basrah. (Telegram No. 1527-E.,
dated 22ud July 1890).
298. Dr. Eustace agreed to render medionl assistance to Government
External a., September 1890. k $. 30-34. servants at Basrah, whether attached to
External a., ib9o, No*. 234-238. the Consulate or passing through the port,
and to do all other work required from him by Government, whet her medico
legal or sanitary, without charging for medicines or boat hire, for the sum
mentioned.
The agreement was to terminate on three months’ notice on either side (agree­
ment, dated 30th July 18‘jOj.
299. Dr. Eustace gave a notice to .terminate the arrangements with
the Agency in January 1892. Thereupon
ExUrual A., Aoguit 1892. No* 17C-*-!8C.
Major Jennings urged the necessity of
providing Basrah with a permanent medical man. He stated that the perma­
nent European residents of Basrah numbered 17 gentlemen and 6 ladies, while
the visits of 60 or 70 steamers a year left a floating British population of
officers and crews of the ships numbering at times even 100 souls, at a time,
having no medical man to attend upon them. (Major Jennings’ to .Resident,
No. 126, dated 27tb Eebruary 1892.)
Colonel Mockler supported the recommendation of Major Jennings
(letter No. 144, dated 8th March 1892).
300. Tho Government of India found then Dr. P. B. Hay Jagannadham,
M. D. (Ediuborough), prepared to tako up the practice offered in Basrah on the
same terms as Dr. Eustace and direoted that tho same arrangement might
be made with him. (Eoroign Department letter No. 1350-E., dated 20th
July 1892.)