'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎66] (75/568)

66
HYGIENE
taken against the summer heat, against insects, and against the
rather sharp contrasts between day and night temperatures which
occur in autumn, winter, and spring, and if, further, such care is
taken with regard to water, &c., as is necessary in a country the
inhabitants of which are unacquainted with European rules of
sanitation, the health conditions for Europeans in Mesopotamia may
be regarded as in general fairly good. The winters in the plains and
lower hills are bracing; and outside the region of marsh and flood
the atmosphere in summer is dry.
In the plains both of upper and of lower Mesopotamia the hot
weather, which begins in April and ends in September or October,
is very trying to European residents as well on account of its length
as owing to the very high temperatures which occur in it. During
this season European residents in the towns have been accustomed
to spend the hottest parts of the day in (underground cellars),
with which all the larger, houses are provided. Punkahs also are
used. On the hottest days it is almost impossible for Europeans to
remain in the upper rooms of houses built in the native style. The
flat roofs are used as sleeping quarters in the summer. In Basra
the nights are hotter and damper than in Baghdad, and it is advisable
to sleep under an awning which serves as protection against the
morning dews.
Even in Irak the cold of winter, which is often bitter at nights,
makes thick clothing necessary. For the hot season, besides thin
day and night clothing, spine-pad and topee are essential. ' A good
pair of dark or amber glasses with dust-proof sides fitting closely
(or motor goggles) are absolutely essential all the year round, as
the dust storms are extremely bad, and the glare from the water and
desert extremely trying to the eyes.' Mosquito curtains are necessary.
The following notes are quoted from Field
edition of 1917, p. 287 :
' Water (in Irak).—The river is the best supply, when available ;
it is muddy as a rule, and requires sedimentation with alum ; it
should always be boiled or chlorinated.
The water for drinking purposes should always be taken from
the middle of the main stream if possible, and never from the
small creeks, which are always badly polluted.
The other source of water is from wells on the desert; it is
nearly always brackish and very unpleasant to taste and ex
tremely hard; a pinch of Soda Bicarb, often improves it; this
water is liable to cause diarrhoea. Some of these wells are
quite good as far as organic pollution is concerned, but one
occasionally finds them polluted with dead cattle.