‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’ [‎101r] (206/488)

He emphasises the need for a judicious selection of methods in combating
flies, to suit different conditions. He works out the cost of killing 1 million
flies by each method, e.g .—
Rs.
A.
p.
1. Fly papers kill 1,000,000 flies at cost of . t
32
0
0
2. Arsenic traps „
» jj * •
2
9
0
3. Balfour trap „
jj }} • •
20
8
0
4. Kerosine oil (125°)
>> >) • •
23
6
0
5. Army Fly Spray
)> >) • *
. 40
0
0
6. Japanese Fly traps
>> }> • •
60
0
0
He emphasises the superior advantages of the arsenic trap over other
methods and suggests more use of ]it in the autumn campaign, the dangers being
•negligible with care, and the trap being capable of construction by any unit
without E. F. P. aid.
He deprecates construction of any more Balfour traps and is supported in
this by the other Entomologists; but recommends the Army Fly Spray in spite
of its high cost as it has no adequate substitute.
A further note on Sand-flies by the Entomologist at the front shows that
P. papatessi is decreasing and the search for larvae has been abandoned. On
4th and 5th June, 30 to 40 Phlebotomus were caught and after 5th June only
a few—so far 3 species (1 Phlebotomus, 1 Culicoides, and 1 Simulium) have
been captured. He thinks lamp trap should be used especially at hospitals.
rilL Disinfection .—Advanced Base is doing useful work. The weekly
average of articles disinfected being about 8.000, and of clothes washed 2,500.
Basrah Central disinfectors put through 10,000 articles per diem on an average.
The question of increasing disinfection facilities at Basrah is at present under
consideration
IX. Conservancy.-' O C. No. 46 Sanitary Section has made and distributed
many sanitary appliances. He has demonstrated by models, drawings and
installations to all comers, what a little ingenuity can accomplish in sanitary
construction. The time has now arrived for the reproduction of his type appli
ances by works and others.
X. Sanitary Organization .—An officer took over the duties of D. A. D. M. S.
(Sanitary) G. H. Q. on 29th M ay and has, since then, done much inspection work.
XI. Reports. — D. D. M. S. One Corps. —(9th June and 16th June).
Billets satisfactory; closed incinerators everywhere; railway station piped water
supply will be ready in a few days; buildings of cook-houses everywhere;
roofing difficult to obtain.
D. D. M. S., H. Q. — (2nd June and 9th June). H. Q. sanitation now
satisfactory; brick water tanks being arranged for.
X D M.S., another Division. —(9th June). Water arrangements satisfactory}
chlorination of water at ice plant; sanitary material arriving; a few little
dumps still exist but they should be gone in a week. (16th June) universal
incineration ; 2 cases Diphtheria in one regiment, origin being a carrier who
came from England to India 4 months ago and has now been segregated.
A. D. M. S, another Division. —(16th June) reports all one Brigade now
in camp; all British kitchens sun protected. A safe bathing place on island
at Karadah opposite Divisional H. Q. has been selected ; irrigation cuts used
for road watering and to be dried once weekly to prevent mosquitoes; camps
for incoming regiments being prepared in advance; shortage of tins causes
much difficulty.
A. D M. S., another Division. — (9th June and 16th June). Derails of
Diphthe ia 17 supposed Scurvy cases in one native battalion were proved on
careful examination to be Pyorrhoea; Khorassan Canal getting low and soon
all watering will be from the Dialah; Balfour fly traps not a great success.
A. D. M. S. another Division. —Qflth June) reports sanitary progress;
delay with central slaughter-house ; delay in working the river pumps and lack
of water for roads; vegetable rations for Indians raised to 9 ozs; too many
Arabs returning to hamlets in the camp; site for divisional disinfection station
chosen and stores arriving; general health good.
A. D. M. S., Advanced Base. —(16th June) reports 32 cases of chicken-pox
in Labour and Porter Corps, who are now sleeping out; Pneumonia deaths 0
(a decrease) ; Central Butchery in use; 37 ships examined for dead rats and
none found though ships infested with rats; C. C. S. infectious section hut
well in hand ; 4 restaurants licensed; progress everywhere with hospital con
servancy works; water supplies at foreshore, Infectious and Cavalry Barracks,