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CHAPTER VI.
Administration Report of tiie Political Agency, Muscat, for 1931.
1. Personnel.—Lieutenant-Colonel T. C. Fowlc, C.B.E., held charge of the
Political Agency and Consulate from the 1st January to the 28th May and a«ain
from 1 st November to the end of the year.
2. Captain R. G. Alban held ofliciating charge of the Agency and Consulate
from the 29th May to the 31st October.
3. The post of Agency Surgeon was held throughout the year by Captain D. L.
Mackay, IM.D., and that of Sub-Assistant Surgeon by Mr. G. B. Yemkanmardi.
4. The post of Treasury Officer was held during the year by Mr. S. P. Pereira
except for the first 17 days of January when the post was filled by Khan Sahib
M. J. Gazdar, M.B.E.
5. Agency Hospital.—The attendance of patients during the year was good.
The total number treated was 8,180, of which 8,008 were out-patients and 112 in­
patients. These figures show a decrease by 12 in-patients and 243 out-patients as
compared with the figures of the previous year. Patients attend from Matrah as
well as from out-lying places.
Prevailing Diseases.—Malaria with its resulting consequences was the most
prevailing disease and accounted for a quarter of the total number of cases treated
at the hospital. Its incidence showed a decrease on the previous year and this
factor may perhaps be attributed to the absence of rainfall. Skin and eye diseases
with diseases of the digestive system come next in frequency.
Surgical Operations.—633 operations were performed and deserve no special
comment.
Poisoning.—No cases were treated suffering from poisons either vegetable or
mineral, and no cases or deaths occurred from snake bites. There were no cases
requiring despatch to India for Anti-Rabic treatment.
Epidemics.—There were no epidemics of infectious disease throughout the year
cither in Muscat or Matrah and none were reported from places in their close vicinity.
One case of small-pox, a passenger on the S. S. “ Barpcta ” was landed on the
11th September and treated in the Quarantine Station. Quarantine restrictions
were imposed and two hundred persons submitted to vaccination.
Iraq became cholera infected from the middle of the year. All persons leaving
this port for Iraq received double cholera inoculations, the cost of the vaccine was
met by the State.
C. Public Health and Sanitation.—Sanitary conditions generally remain bad.
A scheme for the adoption of anti-malarial measures has been drawn up, and it is
hoped that conditions will have improved by the end of the year.
A new building was erected at the Quarantine Station for the accommodation
of the cases requiring isolation, and general repairs were carried out on the shed
for accommodating contacts.
7. Foreign Interests.—The French sloop “ Diana ” arrived at Muscat on 7th
January with Contrc-Adiniral Deville on board. She did not fire the customary
salute as she had run out of ammunition. Visits were exchanged between the
Political Agent and the Admiral and between the latter and the Council of
Ministers.
8. The French Consulate remained closed during the year in charge of a
watchman.
9. Monsieur Cassin, the French Vice-ConRul at Bushire, paid an unofficial visit
to Muscat on the 14th March and left on the 18th March.
10. The Political Agent remained in charge of American interests.
11. Puling Family.—Ills Highness the Sultan remained absent at Debra Dun
throughout the year. Towards the end of the year he formally abdicated in favour
of his son Suiyid Said in spite of the combined efforts and arguments of the Hon’blo
the Political Resident, the Political Agent, and Saiyid Said. Government have
therefore accepted the Sultan’s abdication and approved of Saiyid Said’s succession
which will formally take place early in 1932.
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