Page 83 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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XIV.—Medical.
1. Health of the Town.—(o) Various factors have had an adverse effect on
the health of the inhabitants during the year under review. Trade depression,
failure of the Pearl trade, etc., denuded the town of a great deal of money
thereby causing distress, insufficiency of food and the necessaries of life and other
means to combat illnesses. Many persons who would otherwise have been well
able to put up a good fight, succumbed readily while others were constantly
ailing. Infants suffered most.
(b) Tuberculosis, the usual “ toll taker ” had a greater sway than previously
and there does not seem to be any real hope of combating this scourge for many
reasons, chief of which are the habits, customs and mode of living of the poor,
any attempts to change which would be at present futile.
(c) Infantile diseases.—Infants and small children suffer very much, and
during the year under review, 1931, were even deprived of the slender chances
they possessed owing to lack of food and clothing. Some died of sheer want
Among the very poor, while disease carried off others more rapidly than would nor­
mally be the case. Infant welfare and Hygiene are an almost closed book to the
mothers. The vast'majority are ignorant and do not seem to care nor interest
themselves in matters concerning the welfare of their children.
(d) Common diseases were those of the eyes, ears, bowels and skin and hero
again there is no dimunition in the numbers or spread of these diseases owing to
the absolute lack of personal hygiene and manner of living, combined with extreme
casualness in the treatment of these complaints.
2. Sanitation.—The Municipality have been so anxious to show results in
town improvements such as road widening and repairing, etc., that their efforts
in other directions have not been so good as might have been expected. Greater
energy in hygiene matters might have been triea.
3. Water.in previous years, this was brought by dhows in wooden tanks
from the Shattal Arab near Fao, and was distributed to the houses by means of
skins and kerosene oil tins, the cost varying with the supply and demand $nd
weather conditions,
4. Epidemics..—None.
£. Charitable Dispensary.—Total number treated during the year—
Men .. 3,601
r • t r
Women • ? • t .. 4,167
Male children .. 2,500
f •
Female children ,. t • t f 2,345
Total 12,613
The Dispensary is now accommodated in 3 very nice rooms, with a couple of
{Store rooms. A separate dressing room and separate waiting rooms for men
pnd women are' improvements which make for better attention, and a morn
cheerful atmosphere, than lias been the case in the past.
XV.—The American Mission.
(а) On 27th Februarv the American Colony were honoured by the visit of the
United States Consul in Baghdad. He stayed with them for three days (see para­
graph VI).
(б) On 25th July The Reverend J. Van Ess accompanied by Miss Rachael
Jackson arrived from Basrah. They returned on 31st July.
* - • i
(c) On 11th September Dr. Miss Barney returned from leave in Europe.
(d) The 15th September saw the practical completion of the new Mission
Church and School Rooms which were started in March 1931.
The building was finished off by the end of the year, and is a good substantial
.one built to catch every breeze.