"العراق والخليج الفارسي" [ظ‎‎٢‎٧‎٣] (٨٦٢/٥٤٩)

PUBLIC HEALTH AND DISEASE
422
than the amoebic form of the disease, but in Iraq the Entamoeba
histolytica was the cause of 20 per cent, of acute dysenteries amongst
British troops in the forward areas whilst the ratio of incidence
amongst Indian troops was almost double. At Basra the ratio of
amoebic infections amongst British troops was 40 per cent.
Convalescents from the disease as well as healthy persons with no
history of dysentery may harbour encysted forms of Entamoeba
histolytica in the large intestine, and excrete them, constantly or inter
mittently. Senekji, Boswell, and Beattie (1939) examined 1,000
apparently healthy individuals. Of these 119 were pilgrims returning
from Mecca; the remainder were young men from 18 to 20 years of
age. Entamoeba histolytica was found in 49*3 per cent. Most of the
men came from central Iraq, but there is no reason to believe that
such healthy dysentery carriers are more numerous there than else
where. It is interesting that the percentage of carriers was higher in
Baghdad city than in the rest of Baghdad province, an indication that
the higher sanitary standards in the city are insufficient to counteract
the spread of infection caused by urban aggregation.
Two essential provisions for the control of dysentery, of both
forms, are careful supervision of the water-supply, and the protection
of all foodstuffs from the house-fly. A continuous high and moist
temperature favours the development of amoebic dysentery.
Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fevers
Fevers of the enteric group are widespread throughout Iraq and are
most prevalent from May to November. Cases registered in Iraq in
1939 numbered 826 (typhoid) and 430 (paratyphoid). More than half
were notified in the Baghdad and Mosul provinces, but it is doubtful
whether the figures indicate a greater incidence there than elsewhere,
and no province was free of the disease. Infection is probably com
mon in early childhood among the Iraqis, so that the adult population
enjoys a considerable degree of immunity. Cases and deaths in the
three principal towns in 1938 were:
Typhoid Paratyphoid
Cases
Deaths
Cases
Deaths
Baghdad
. 240
8
24
2
Basra .
Si
8
6
2
Mosul .
73
15
151
12
The high case-mortality rate in Mosul is probably an indication that
many mild cases went unrecorded.
The results of blood examinations at the Central Laboratory of