"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد I. ١٩١٨" [‎٦‎٥] (٥٦٨/٧٤)

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CHAPTER V
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HYGIENE
It (I
2 Europeans, the principal disease of the country is
maljiua. This is most incident m the neighbourhood of marshes
and inundation-areas, and it is therefore especially prevalent in
ower Mesopotamia and above all among the swamps of southern
f rak ^ th ® fl 00 * 3 season and in autumn. It is also to be apprehended
in certain low-lying marshy localities of upper Mesopotamia.
In the plains during the summer months fatiguing work in the
i m 0 P en ^ llkel y to brin g on beat-stroke. This is specially likelv to
^ ® ec " r . in a humid atmosphere, so that in this respect also southern
M Irak m its present condition is the most unhealthy part of the
T country. Prickly heat also is very prevalent in the damp part of
:jii the country. 1
iji There may also be danger at times, or under certain conditions of
cholera, choleraic diarrhoea, plague, or typhus. The spread of cholera
and choleraic diarrhoea is much increased by flies. On measures
necessary to protect camps, &c., from flies see
tamm published by the General Staff, India, 1917 edition, pp. 52-4.
A boil which is called by various names (e. g. 'Baghdad boil'Basra
, date-mark ) attacks both Europeans and natives in many of the cities.
JNatives of the towns where the boil is prevalent are generally attacked
, infanc y at an age of from one to three years. Newcomers are almost
! , always attacked within a year of their arrival in a town where the
i disease is prevalent. The boil usually appears on the face, hand,
wrist, or ankle. It lasts for about a year, causes discomfort, and
a* leaves a scar, but is not dangerous. It is believed to be caused by
a parasite, called Leishmania, injected by the bite of some noxious
* insect, probably a sand-fly. Treatment by carbonic acid snow may
» possibly reduce the boil for a time, but in that case it is likely to
. I return sooner or later. If the boil is left alone, the disease will not
sl» come back when once it has run its course. Natives inoculate the
sore on the arm to prevent a disfiguring scar on the face.
Outside malaria-infested districts, if proper precautions can be
mes. i