Page 224 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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If war, as some-one has expressed it, is the great negation of personal life, yet the intrusion of
its elements into the personal liberties of the Arab has been practically all to his advantage which he
realises as he has hardly ever lacked in the necessities of life and health amenities.

The year that has past was one of only fair health due to an increase of malaria and a severe
hot weather period with the fast of Ramandan falling in August.
In this era of peace just beginning, we can enter a field of improvement and enlightenment
where prejudice has largely been swept away, so .that the more permanent public health measures long
envisaged will now have little difficulty in being implanted.

The Staff.—Miss D. Ellson, who had been acting Matron, resigned and left in November to be
married. The new Matron, Miss Adamson, was appointed in England at the end of the year. Miss
Maguire is at present acting Matron until she arrives. Difficulties in obtaining key Indian staff are
slowly improving, and the Arab staff are much more stabilized.
Epidemic*.—There were no epidemics, and Small-pox reached its lowest figure of 14 only.
Vaccinations are still being carried out especially among the schools. Dysentery declined still further,
with a higher proportion of Bacillary.
Malaria.—Malaria was distinctly more prevalent during both seasons, and of a severer type in
November and December. Even in the Benign Tertian cases was this noticed with high temperatures
swinging remittingly for several days under full treatment with injections. Despite its severity
only two deaths were recorded, one being from Qatar. Benign Tertian predominated and malignant
celebral types were rare. It is thought that the predominating south wind in November and early
December was largely responsible by blowing infection from the gardens into the town. This year’s
figure was 12 % as opposed to 10% last year.
The present weakness of anti-malaria control has been its restricted influence around the towns.
Lack of transport was largely responsible, and it is proposed to increase the outlying perimeter next
year.
Surgical.—A new operation for trichiasis has been evolved which is much more satisfactory
in its results. It is called a partial lower tarsectomy. An interesting pedicle graft to reform an eye
socket was successfully carried out.
MedicaL—Pcncillin and D.D.T. are both being tried out for the first time. Venereal Disease
is still increasing, and severe types of secondary mucous patches were seen in adults, and condylo-
mata in juveniles.
The Service*.—412 European patients were admitted this year, the leading diseases being :—
Heat Exhaustion, Prickly Heat and Furunculosis 78
Malaria (B.T. 21. M.T. 13. Clinical 11) 45
Enteritis....................................................... 44
Tonsillitis....................................................... 40
Dysentery. (Bacillary 7. Amoebic nil. Clin 31) 38
Septic Complaints............................................... 29
Injuries ....................................................... 17
Infective Hepatitis (Jaundice)....................... 5
The heat exhaustion cases were the highest recorded.

Units represented were.—Army 21. Navy 17. R.A.F. 359. B.O.A.C. 14. Others 1.

The Services War Scheme in this hospital comes to an end on January 15th, 1946, after a period
of 3i years, and a total of 1,330 in-patients will have been treated during that time. The R.A.F.
have now their own permanent hospital in the aerodrome area of Muharraq, where all Services will
be admitted.