‘Gazetteer of Persia, Part III, including Fārs, Lūristān, Arabistān, Khūzistān, Yazd, Karmānshāh, Ardalān, Kurdistān’ [‎281v] (567/686)

540
SHI—SHI
•
than a few hours, though the surrounding mountains are snow*
capped for some months, the weather in spring is very genial and
pleasant, but the sun begins to be hot in the middle of the day in April.
July and August are the hot months, but fortunately the nights
are comparatively cool, especially in the open. All travelling from
May to September is usually done in the early morning or evening,
and this holds good throughout the interior of Persia. The direct
rays of the sun are felt through the day, rarifying the atmosphere out of
all proportion to the general temperature. Cereals, vines, melons,
cucumbers, cabbages, beetroot, opium, cotton, and tobacco are exten
sively cultivated. Fir, cypress, and orange trees also grow, the last-
named are not found further north.
“ The diseases prevalent in Shiraz and surrounding districts are
intermittent fever, enlarged spleen, hepatitis, dyspepsia, costiveness,
haemorrhoids, dropsy, infantile diarrhoea, intestinal worms, asthma,
bronchitis, ophthalmia, opacities of cornea, hepatitis, iritis, cataract,
syphilis in the various stages, gonorrhoea, stricture, retention of urine,
urinary calculi, eczema, measles, pertussis, small-pox, typhoid fever,
puerperal fever, chronic rheumatism, paralysis, and epilepsy, and in
children meningitis. Amongst the diseases which are in England
very common, but here are seldom met with, may be mentioned,
phthisis, pneumonia, acute rheumatism and diseases of the heart and
kidneys as primary affections. Cases of fracture of the bones of
the upper and lower limbs and severe mutilation as the result of
accident are rare. Fracture of the skull, injuries and wounds caused
by bidlets and sword or knife are not unfrequently seen. Attempts at
suicide occasionally occur, usually by means of arsenic or opium.
Intermittent fever is probably the most prevalent disease in Persia;
in Shiraz cases occur all the year round, but in the autumn it is most
common, and is then more severe and persistent. After an unusually
heavy rainy season, intermittent fever is much more rife. Natives
explain it by excessive indulgence in fruit, but Mr. Odling attributes
it to the greater amount of water lying about, which breeds the
malarial poison or miasma, and makes it more active. This is hardly
borne out by the case of Dih-i-Bld, which is 7,500 feet high, and
very dry and bracing, the very last place it would have been thought
that fever would occur, yet the inhabitants suffer there too. An
attack is generally preceded by premonitory symptons—frontal head
ache, pain in eyes; at this time Dr. Odling found 6 or 8 grains will
prevent an attack; in ordinary cases he gives 4 grains cinchona alka
loid in the form of pills three times a day, and also 8 to 10 grains
4 hours before the next attack is expected, and if the time passes
without the attack, he continues 4 grains twice daily for a few days
longer; at the same time he prescribes an aperient if necessary, and
also the following mixture : Aromatic spirits of ammonia 3 "drams,
and bi.-carb. of soda 2 drams in 12 ozs. of water, one dose to be
taken 3 times daily. If vomiting takes place dilute hydrocyanic
acid and bismuth. Usually he finds that going to bed, using an extra
blanket or two and drinking hot tea freely quickly produces perspir
ation. Occasionally also -jL- grain tartar emetic, and 1 to 2 drops