Page 296 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

12 PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORT

APPENDIX
MEMORANDUM: BY MAJOR J. McPHERSON, I. M. S, RESIDENCY
SURGEON AND CHIEF QUARANTINE MEDICAL OFFICER
IN THE PERSIAN GULF, ON THE WORK OF (1) THE RESI.
: DENCY DISPENSARY, (2) QUARANTINE ADMINISTRATION
IN THE GULF.

The accompanying table shows tho numbers of patients and operations
for the years 1912-1914.
Residency Diipenuiy.

Year. In-pationU. Out-patients. Operations.

1912 31 13,716 589
1913 146 15,009 552
1914 105 13,190 636

The Residency Dispensary is much appreciated by the people of Bushire
and the neighbourhood, aud is the only one to which the general public may
apply for fr23 treatment.. The attendance of patients continues to be satisfac­
tory. Ther e has been an increase in the cases operated on during the year.
The chief diseases for which treatment is sought are:—
(1) Diseases of the digestive system.
(2) Malaria.
(3) Diseases of the eye.
(4) »> n »• ear.
(6) „ * „ respiratory system.
It is noteworthy that a considerable proportion of our patients are women
and they show less objection than women of the same class in India to undergo
treatment at the hands of the male doctors.
The building which serven for a hospital is the property of a Persian who
has for loig expended no money on its upkeep. Consequently the building
is in the last stages of disrepair and its condition is such as to render it a most
unsatisfactory place in which to carry on medical and surgical work. It »
greatly to be desired that the British Medical Staff in Bushire may soon be
housod more worthily.
A small fund, accumulated by contributions of some of the chief in­
habitants of Bushire, has for some timo been destined by them to go towards
the provision of a good hospital, and until roccntly it appeared as if tb®
intention was that the new hospital should be run by Persians. A counter­
proposal with some considerable authority to back it is to tho effect that funds
oe raised locally to assist in tho building of a new hospital on a sit© to be grunt*
ed free by its proprietor. The hope has been expressed that the Government
of India would be good enough to permit the Staff of tho Residency Dispensary
to run tli© now Hospital intended to replace it, and that furthor the Govern-
ment of India might possibly assist in the ©xpenso of building the hospital-
There is little doubt that it will be a considerable timo before tho 1°°
efforts, if unaided, will suffice to build and maintain a good hospital.
: