Page 355 - PERSIAN 1 1873_1879 Admin Report1_Neat

YEAR 1370-77. 107
MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR TIIB
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invaded the pi sums. .
Cholera lias undoubtedly prevailed in former years in a severe
epidemic form. The first epidemic during- this century that I have been
aide to find a trace of, was in 18^1, when it prevailed generally all over
the Persian Gulf. It was one of a very severe type, and is perhaps the
one to which Dr. Aitken alludes in his “Science and Practice of
Medicine” (Uli Ed., p. G3G)
“ When the cholera reached Muscat, instances are given in which
only ten minutes elapsed from the first apparent seizure before life was
extinct.” Dr. W. S. \V. Ruschcnhcrgcr in his “Narrative of a voyage
round the world during the years 18-35, 1S3G and 1837,” quoting the
Asiatic journal for 1322 as his authority, says, that “in June 1821,
when the cholera carried off 10,000 of the Sultan's subjects, the heat
was almost unsupportable, and the wind was like a flame of fire. At
midnight the thermometer stood at 104°.” The occurrence and severity
id this great epidemic are further confirmed by the following passage
froni the “ History of the Imams and Seyyids of Oman by Mahummad
ihn Ruzit,” translated by George Percy Budgcr, F.R.G.S : “This year,
A. II. 123G (A.D. 1820-21), a plague broke out in Oman, and proved
fatal to a great many. This plague differed from that which occurs at
Constantinople, at Damascus, Baghdad and El-Busrah. It first attacks a
man’s abdomen, and then matter is ejected from the mouth and the anus
until lie dies. Some who arc seized die at once; others after two or three
days; and only a few survive. Great numbers in Oman fell victims to
it.” This undoubtedly settles the point of the disease having been cholera,
and of the severity with which it attacked the population of Muscat and
Oman in general. No authentic record can at present be discovered
of any epidemic since the one of 1821; but the disease must have pre­
vailed at other times. From the statements of the people it would
seem that an epidemic of cholera prevailed in Muscat about 20 years
ago; and the late Mr. Rozario, formerly in medical charge of the British
Agency here, mentions in bis account of Muscat that “ the last time it
visited Muscat was in the summer of 1865.” Muscat has undoubtedly
been entirely free from the disease since then; but the sanitation being
so very defective, some of the principal predisposing causes are always in
existence, and the introduction of the specific poison will excite an
epidemic of great virulence and severity.
Dysentery is rather an uncommon disease, and is principally limited
to Indian and other pilgrims iu whom a scorbutic taint i3 often observed,
lne disease is generally of a mild type, and easily cured by moans of
ipecacuanha. The specific type known C3 ccorbutic dysentery is very
rare, and never observed amongst the fixed population.
.. Scurry is principally observed amongst the pearl-fishers, who have
« live a greater part of the year on salt-fish and dates, and amongst
ae Indian and other pilgrims on their way to or back from Mecca. The
I™ * is generally exempt from the disease, which u dee i in a
® at measure to the use of fresh limes and vinegar they make.