'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎141r] (286/470)

the prohibition of the use of creek water, and later in the year it was found possible
to augment it so that now two gallons per head per day are available—-Basrah taking
30,000 gallons, and ‘Ashar with the refugee camps 35,000 gallons.
(47) Food Inspection .—Two whole-time inspectors are engaged in the work of
food inspection, spending the early part of the day in the municipal slaughter
houses and visiting the fish markets and food bazaars later. As regards the
slaughter-house, the same method of disposal of offal and intestinal contents by
incineration (with burial in the three or four cold months of the year) is in force and
is satisfactory.
(48) The diseases most commonly found during inspection are hydatid cysts
of the liver (about 1 in 4 of both beasts and sheep affected), liver-fluke (about 1
in 10 for beasts and 1 in 20 for sheep), and cysticercus bovis (about 2 per cent, of
beasts affected); less common is hydatid disease of the lungs, while tuberculosis is
exceedingly rare. The following figures account for the work done at the slaughter
houses :—
Number Slaughtered.
Number in which Parts were
Condemned.
‘Ashar.
Basrah (for
Six Months only).
‘Ashar.
Basrah (for
Six Months only),
Sheep -
31,900
21,712
11,379
4,660
Cattle -
3,819
670
1,843
290
Buffaloes
911
—
906
—
Camels -
46
10
29
(49) Further, during their visits to the bazaars, the inspectors condemned and
destroyed 156 lb. of meat, 10,395 lb. of fish, and 9,028 lb. of vegetables in ‘Ashar;
and 140 lb. of meat, 323 lb. of fish, and 821 lb. of vegetables in Basrah.
(50) The adoption of the regulations referred to last year regarding the sanitary
requirements in butchers’ shops has much improved the appearance and cleanliness
of these bazaars. The policy of collecting such trades into one area is commendable
from a sanitary point of view, and a special quarter for the bakers of ‘Ashar would be
advantageous." The routine inspection of bakehouses, eating-houses and teashops
has continued, and the general conditions found are satisfactory.
(51) During the cholera season samples of icecream were submitted for bacterio
logical examination and were found to be contaminated; the sanitary control of
this industry proves difficult, inasmuch as small itinerant vendors prepare and sell the
material in the bazaars and supervision is accordingly not possible.
(52) The date picking and packing industry has received attention and, at the
request of the Military Governor, draft sanitary regulations for its control were
submitted. The regulations provided for the approval of the site and the structure
of chardaghs (or packing stores) before licensing, for sanitary accommodation for
the employees, for the cleanliness of workers and their methods, and for the
protection of the fruit from dust and flies.
(53) Housing and Town - Planning .—The Basrah Development Committee
(consisting of the heads of the interested civil departments with a military repre
sentative as president) held 10 further meetings until its dissolution on 27th October.
During this period many questions as to future developments were discussed, but
the reference of the Committee prevented the consideration of post-bellum problems.
From among the Committee’s recommendations action, however, has up to date
been taken in respect of—
(i) Widening Club Road.
(ii) Improvements at corner of Strand.
(hi) Registering ideal width for all streets in ‘Ashar and Basrah.
(iv) Plan for reconstruction as one wide bazaar of two narrow ‘Ashar bazaars,
destroyed by fire.
(v) Widening creek roadway by Baghdad Gate Bridge.
(vi) Appointment of inspectors to prevent encroachments in municipal area
through the erection of unauthorised huts and sarifahs.
(vii) Laying out of municipal garden and nursery.