"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد I. ١٩١٨" [‎٦‎٨] (٥٦٨/٧٧)

68
HYGIENE
stations dealt with the pilgrims to the Shiah shrines of Kerhela and
These come every year from Persia, India, and other Moham-
medan countries, generally in numbers varying between 150,000 and
200,000. Quarantine is the more necessary as many ot them bring
the corpses of their kinsfolk for burial in Nejef.
Under the Turkish regime in Irak there was a sanitary department
at Baghdad controlled by a medical officer (the or inspector),
who received his orders direct from the International Board of Health
at Constantinople. One of his principal subordinates was a doctor
with three assistants at Khanikin, whose duty it was to inspect all
corpses entering the country from Persia for interment at the holy
places • there were also establishments for the maintenance of sea
quarantine at Fao and Basra. After these the sanitary posts at
Neief and Kerbela ranked next in importance, while of the
department were stationed also at Amara, Haji Qarah (in the Khanikin
kaza), Mandali, Bedrah, Samarra, Kazimain, and Museyib-all places
frequented or passed en route by Shiah pilgrims. The department
also levied a tax upon all corpses transported for burial, with a view
to the upkeep of these sanitary services, which tax must be distin
guished from the fees charged at the actual places of burial by the
religious authorities according to the sanctity of the locality selected.
Sanitation is being introduced into the towns occupied by the
British.