'Military Report on S.-W. Persia, Vol. I. Bakhtiari Garmsir' [‎25v] (55/168)

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Cardiac disease is still less frequent, three cases only having
been reported during the year. It may be accounted for by the
rarity with which the diseases usually responsible for it are met
with. Further, in a country with no industries to speak of, and
with little or no cause for undue vascular strain on the part of the
natives, the infrequency of vascular disease in general is not sur
prising.
Malarial fever is prevalent, although this cannot be termed a
malarial district. The rivers are nearly all flowing and marshes and
pools of stagnant water are few and far between. Anyone who
lived here for a time would not fail to appreciate the fewness of
mosquitoes about, and close observation will reveal the fact
as regards anopheles. There is little doubt that the presence of
petroleum oil in rivers like the Tambi near Maidan Minaftun or the
Putang and Rud-i-Zard near Ram Hormuz minimises their
propagation to a very large extent,>but during my frequent journeys
through various parts of the country I noted their absence in many
localities, even where no oil was to be seen in the neighbourhood.
Malaria occurs in the form of an intermittent fever which is
most frequent in the autumn and spring seasons. It is usually
benign in character and not often relapsing. The remittent and
other malignant types are much less in proportion, and out of 500
cases, for instance, about 100 included quotidians, cachetics and
patients with enlarged spleens, the majority of which were cases
of several years standing. The innocent villagers, most of whom
never saw even a native doctor, sometimes describe their fever
accurately enough ; Ruzaneh (Quotidian), Sih-yak (Tertian), TaU
i-suls (Quartan), &c.
Generally, few Europeans escape an attack of the intermittent
type, which occurs as a rule in the spring or autumn, and is easily
controlled with the usual remedies.
Ophthalmic diseases are also prevalent, and due no doubt to
the high sand storms, especially on the plains, and to the glare of
the sun. Ophthalmia, keratitis, corneal ulcers, iritis; staphylomata
and cataract are very frequently seen. Among Europeans who
protect the eyes from sand and glare by the aid of goggles no eye
affections were recorded.
Digestive troubles form perhaps 50 per cent, of all the cases met
with. Constipation prevails mostly in the summer, and not infre
quently favours an attack of fever which a smart purge will cut short.
Diarrhoea is not so prevalent. Stomatitis, gastritis, acute and chronic,
and dilatation of the stomach are most common, and probably