'REPORT on the Working of the Line of Communication AND ON THE Withdrawal of the British Military Mission IN EAST PERSIA, 1919-20. GENERAL STAFF INDIA. [‎21v] (47/168)

29
/ a ) Epidemic Jaundice-hroke out amongst tbe troops composing Malmiss
Force at Meshed in July 1919, and continued in epidemic form throughout
lu '^fc and September. Sporadic cases continued to occur throughout the
rear The outbreak originated in the 19th Punjabis in which unit cases had
occurred during the previous year in Trsnscaspia. The iroops were living
in tents in hired gardens, the tents in most cases being pitched much too close
together and being also overcrowded. Major Haiold, R.A.M.C (Deputy
Assistant Director, Medical Services (Sanitary), proceeded to Meshed at the
i _ c T __i j i,,-a arhrioA thp fents Avere opened out and more tents
end of July and on his advice the tents
fn rplipvft t.hp overcrowdin
Cases of jaundice also occurred at all the posts on the Line of Communi
cations during September, October and November 1919, but the disease never
assumed epidemic proportions as it did in Meshed,
It would appear that the casual organism, whatever it may be, is ubiquitous
all over East Persia as infection can hardly have been conveyed from Meshed
to Sistan, which is 70 miles from the direct Line of Communications.
The incidence of the disease at the various posts is shown in the Table
attached as Appendix (3).
(b) Influenza.—A severe outbreak of influenza occurred during December
1919, January, February and March 1920, and lasted intermittently during
April, May and June 1920.
The first cases occurred amongst the men of the Camel Corps at Hurmuk
at the end of November 1919, and two British Officers were also attacked at
the same time, the disease having been contracted at Duzdap.
The disease next occurred in No. 5 Motor Transport Company and
was conveyed by Mechanical Transport Convoys to Safedawa and Shusp,
where, in spite of all precautions, it spread rapidly. A few isolated cases
occurred at Birjand and Kain but the disease did not assume edidemic pro
portions at these places until tbe latter part of January at Kain and February
at Birjand, the infection having been brought from the North, Turbat and
Meshed became infected towards the end of December. The disease did not
reach Sistan till the middle of March.
The total number of cases for tbe whole Line of Communications (includ
ing those received from Malmiss Force) was 1,834) with 214) deaths, giving
a case mortality of 11'7 per cent. 4:5 of the cases occurred amongst British
Troops with 2 deaths.
Tbe monthly incidence vm as under
Month.
Clases,
Deaths.
British.
Indians.
British.
Indians.
November 1919 .
2
10
• • •
December 1919 .
496
49
• •••••,
7
• . •
January 1920 ....
11
514
1
71
February 1920
16
478
1
72
March 1920
13
* * • • •
4
198
April 1920
4
* * * *r • «
46
# • •
4
May 1920
1
June 1920
28
...
3
19
...