'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎173v] (351/470)

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Director of Education visited QaPat Salih on 21st December 1918, and it was
agreed to postpone the building of the school for six months or a year, when the
cost of the materials, &c., will, it is hoped, have been reduced. The site already
selected, at the south end of the town, is Government property, and no expenditure
will therefore be incurred beyond the actual construction.
8. Medical and Sanitation : ‘Amarah Town .—The present Medical Officer
of the Town, Capt. P. A. With, R.A.M.C., has done much in the town, both by
his work at the Civil Hospital and Dispensary and during the late outbreak of
cholera and plague. An outbreak of the latter manifested itself in May, causing
altogether 518 deaths.
An isolation hospital wns at once formed, and the majority of the townspeople
were inoculated. A pleasing feature is that this latter was done at the special
request of the majlis. By special permission a set of presents of ‘Amarah silver
work were given to the sisters who did such noble work in inoculating natives of
‘Amarah against plague, accompanied by a suitable letter expressing the admiration
and gratitude of the town for their services.
During the month of June the death-rate dropped considerably, while since
July no further cases have occurred. An epidemic of small-pox occurred in
September, but was brought under control by the end of November. This was
responsible for 109 deaths in all.
Sanitation .—During May last sanction was obtained for 10 extra coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. for
sanitary work in addition to the permanent establishmnet, but these were subse
quently taken away owing to labour shortage. There are now 14 coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. working
on latrines, and all, except four Indian sweepers, have been returned to Military
duty.
Six public cesspits have been constructed in the place of public latrines and
incinerators, and these have proved their value.
A sanitary tramline erected in the town has proved of great use, but difficulty
has been experienced in removing the kith, &c., from the municipal slaughter-house,
since the Military have, during the past year, been unable to supply any Crowley
cart wheels.
A comprehensive drainage scheme is needed. Proposals were made by the
A.D. Works, but w r ere not recommended by the A.D. medical service or by the
Deputy Director Works, Civil, Basrah.
‘Ali Gharbi .—Please see Appendix B., Report by Civil Surgeon, ‘Ali Gharbi.
9. Police : ^Amarah Town .—The establishment of the Civil Police in the
municipality is as follows :—
Designation.
Sanctioned Strength.
Actual Strength.
Vacant.
Inspector - - - -
-
_
1
1
Sub-Inspector
-
-
2
1
1
Clerks -----
-
-
5
3
2
Head Constables -
-
-
12
12
—
M. Head Constable
-
-
1
1
—
Ordinary Constables
-
-
111
103
8
Sowars - - - -
-
-
2
2
—
Mamurs - - - -
'
4
4
Crime has sprung from three sources :—
(1) External Arabs.
(2) Indian criminals.
(3) Ordinary or petty.
(1) This is mainly due to lack of an effectual system of information from outside
areas and loss of time in reporting when crime has been committed.
(2) This is caused mainly by escaped Indian criminals. A recent case in point
is as follows:—An Indian criminal, Veeru, whose robberies in ‘Amarah alone
amount to the value of Rs. 10,000/-. He has twice been convicted, and has each
time escaped from Military custody. This man is still at large. Until Indians
recruited from jails and from criminal tribes are removed, this sort of thing will
continue.