'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME I' [‎277r] (570/820)

one of the numerous cemeteries in the heart of the city or in the ‘ ‘ Biast.”
This custom is rigidly adhered to even in times of epidemic sickness, such as
small-pox and cholera, regardless of the probably evil consequences to the
inhabitants of the town, who hemseives abet and approve the sacred rite.
In this way, the cemeteries of Meshed have been filled over and over
again with the dead of generations. These cemeteries abound with rats,
which establish underground communications between the graveyards and
the neighbouring houses.
In the event of plague in a severe form, such as is now epidemic in
India, reaching Meshed* the city would probably fare very badly.
The public slaughter houses are situated about 50 yards outside the
, , . city walls, on the road leading from the Idgah
Slaughter houses. p -j n K H - hSn Gate . S The many l arge
pariah dogs, which are the indispensable scavengers of the town, attend
to the disposal of the slaughterman’s refuse. In spite, however, of their
a sistance, the ne ; ghbourhood of these houses is usually very unsavoury,
so that they constitute a public nuisance.
In addit on to these public buildings, nearly every soHliers’ guard
house in the city is a private slaughter house, as the ill-paid and worse-
clad Pers'an so 1 dier often ekes out a precarious livelihood by keeping
sheep, and in due time killing them and seliing the meat.
These slaughter-houses are used ch'efly fo the killing of sheep, as the
butchers deal almost exclusively in mutton,
oo supp y. Only the very poor eat beef, which is usually
obtained from the slaughtered carcases of diseased cattle or camels, and is
hardly fit for consumption. Good beef is rarely obtainable, and then only
by special arrangement with the butcher.
Game of various kinds, i.e., wild sheep and venison, bustard, duck,
partridge, sand-grouse, etc., is plentiful at most seasons of the year, and
exposed for sale in the bazars, as are also turkeys and fowls.
Public milk-sellers are numerous. The milk is generally slowly simmered
in a large cauldron in the shop front, for the separation of the cream, and
the skimmed milk then sold. This is frequently fraudulently diluted
with water, generally the nearest water available, which is often unfit
for use. The dangers lurking in bazar milk are therefore great.
In the same way, contaminated water is often used for mixing the dough
in the making of the bread sold in the baker’s shops, and as the heat used
in the baking of the Persian bread may not be sufficiently great to destroy
the germs of disease encased in the centre of the dough, this staple article
of diet is also not free from danger.
There is no properly constituted sanitary authority- in Meshed. There
is, however, a native physician, on whom the
Sanitary Inspector. gM h has bestowed the title of “ President of
Physicians ” ; it is his function to attempt to improve the hygienic con
ditions under which the people of the city live. Beyond making per
functory inspections and recommending measures, which he has no power
to enforce or money to carry out, he can do nothing.
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