'Additions to Gazetteer of Persia, Volumes II to IV.' [‎64r] (127/370)

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The climate, as in all places situated at hi^h altitudes, has the effect
of quickening the breathing and circulation, and
(Sanitary.) 0 £ ma fci n cr the people more nervous and excitable
than those living in tbe lower plains. Beyond this the male population do
not seem to suffer in any serious way. The females, on the contrary, suffer
much from nervous disorders, are soon exhausted, and become old and worn
out. The climate is generally dry, rigorous and healthy. Fever is rare,
except in some few low and swampy valleys, such, for instance, as Khoi, but
those who survive the early years of their existence grow up strong and
healthy. The mortality amongst the children is very high, 60 to 70 per cent,
being the ordinary loss. The carelessness and ignorance of the people rather
than^effect of climate is probably responsible for this excessive death-rate.
The following notes on specific forms of
(Diseases.) disease were obtained from Dr. Adcock of
Tabriz:—
All forms of zymotic diseases are common, and diseases of the eyes
(onthalmia and its consequences) perhaps occur more^ frequently than any
other especially among the voung of both sexes. Stone in the bladder is
also frequent at all ages, especially among the males. In the towns the men
suffer most from indigestion, and the results of sexual abuses and excesses.
Heart-disease is common, and among a large.proportion of the popula
tion the heart is displaced downwards and inwards, probably due to the
Persian habit of tying in the waist, eating at long intervals and in immense
quantities, and their mode of sitting down during meals Lung-diseases
are not particularly common, except during winter, tuberculosis is certainly
less common than in Lurope.
The women suffer greatly from the accidents of child-birth, and the
mal-practices of the mammas or mid-wives; all are almost universally
hysterical Hysteria in one or other of its Protean forms can nearly always
be discovered Headache is the most general malady complained of, and is
most probably due to their sedentary existence, and the abuse of the Kalian.
They also suffer greatly from constipation and its attendant evils. 4 he
custom of early marriage has also a most detrimental effect, and numbers
of poor girls are completely ruined during the first year of marriage.
(The village .)—The men are decidedly more healthy and robust, their-
principal ailment being rheumatism, due to exposure and damp houses. In
feverish districts they naturally suffer from ague, but this is not common,
except in the Kara Dagh. The women, as a rule, are strong and healthy ;
they work very hard and suffer much in the same way and of the same com
plaints as the men, with the exception of the diseases consequent upon child
birth and lactation. Diseases of the eye are frightfully common among all
classes, and skin diseases (Pityriasis and Favus) of the scalp are nearly
universal.
Very large proportions of the children die under five years of age,
probably the greater number under one year. In a family of 10, probably
6 will die under five years' old.
Vaccination and inoculation are commonly practised; inoculation being
most usual, especially outside the towns.
(Picot, 1894)