Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎68v] (136/176)

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Ophthalmic Hospitals.
472. One hundred and thirteen thousand new patients were treated in these
ophthalmic hospitals during the } 7 eai\ and over a million attendances of out-patients
were recorded. The number of eye-operations performed was 65,000. In a country
such as Egypt, where eye diseases are extremely prevalent, and where over 95 per
cent, of the population are affected with chronic trachoma, the benefits conferred by
these institutions are incalculable. During the year, 15,000 patients applied for
treatment who had already become blind in one or both eyes. That the work is highly
appreciated is shown by the fact that there are fifteen specially built ophthalmic
hospitals in the fourteen provinces, which, though maintained by the Government,
have been erected and equipped by local effort. Two hospitals also are in course of
construction at Qena and Giza. In addition to the ophthalmic benefits to the general
population provided in these hospitals, a high standard of training is provided for
the medical officers employed; and it is satisfactory to record that the ophthalmic
hospitals throughout the country are now entirely staffed by highly efficient Egyptian
ophthalmic surgeons working under the British director. OpHthalmic inspection
and treatment of the pupils in Government school forms an important feature of the
work of the ophthalmic section of the Public Health Administration.
Communicable Diseases.
473. The diminished incidence in the principal infectious diseases in 1920, to
which allusion was made in last year's report, has been repeated to an even greater
extent during the year under review. The reduction has been most marked in the
case of smallpox, typhus fever and relapsing fever, of which diseases only 92, 4,476
and 1.217 cases respectively were recorded for the whole country in 1921, as compared
with 3,004, 13,279 and 2,876 cases of each of these diseases in the previous year. The
smallpox figures are the lowest on record for this disease, and the greatly diminished
incidence is largely to be ascribed to the vaccination campaign which, begun in 1919,
was completed only in 1921, and during the course of which a total of 6,000.000
persons were revaccinated. The progressive diminution of infectious disease
generally in the country is in a large measure the result of improved methods of
control.
474. In last year's report reference was made to the dangers attending the use
of shaving brushes imported from Japan, which investigations had shown were
largely infected with anthrax. The measures then in force were found to. be
insufficient to give reasonable security, and during the year the Public Health
Administration found it necessary to have an arrete issued definitely prohibiting
all importation of shaving brushes manufactured in Japan. Since the imposition
of this embargo, a serious effort has been made by the Japanese Government to deal
with the source of danger, and in the near future it may be possible to moderate the
stringency of the measures now in force.
475. During the vear the occurrence in the country of several cases of
Encephalitis lethargica rendered it necessary to include this disease in the schedule
of notifiable infectious diseases.
476. No abnormal occurrence of malaria was noted during 1921, and in spite
of the introduction of a considerable measure of infection through the movements of
troops during the war, there has been, so far, no serious spread of the disease in the
country. The incidence of malaria, how r ever, requires careful watching, more
especially since the employment of large numbers of Egyptian labourers on works
in the Soudan has undoubtedly increased the possibilities of its dissemination. For
the purpose of minimising the risks from this source, measures of precaution have
been adopted in agreement with the Soudan Government.
A nti-Malarial Commission.
477. The valuable work carried out by this commission has been continued
during the year, though with restricted funds. New works were confined to those
districts in which they were most urgently required, namely, Derr—which was
severely infected in 1919—Shellal, Kharga Oasis, Siwa and the Fayoum For the
destruction of mosquito larvae, 160 ponds and over 700 wells were stocked with fish.
Passenger and Immigrant Control.
478. During the year, 114,553 passengers and immigrants from countries
infected or suspected to be infected with cholera landed in Egypt. Measures of