'MEMOIR on the Climate and Diseases of Southern Turkish Arabia by Surgeon-Major J. Hyslop, M.D.' [‎55r] (10/12)

9
stationary after the first month, until it has run its course, and then it
heals, leaving a pitted, depressed, dark coloured cicatrix.
There is another affection which, although somewhat different from
this, I have no hesitation in classing with it and calling a third form of
i( date mark." It is a tubercle, and nothing more. It seldoms attains a
larger size than that of a pea, and gives very little uneasiness. It is
always situated on the hands or feet. The tubercle is of a deep red
colour, and on the top there is a minute white scale, which, being de
tached, shows a small circular hole, from which a sanious looking fluid
may be pressed. It is at first so like the sting of an insect that it is
generally supposed to be so, but it continues for several months, and
leaves a dark coloured mark exactly like that of the male (< date mark."
The two first varieties generally occur together, but they never appear
more than once in the same individual. This third variety always
appears alone, and may occur several times in the same person, and
seldom lasts more than four months. External and internal remedies
have been tried without elfect. The native treatment consists merely in
the application of a little sweet oil to the sores, or a leech or two in the
neighbourhood when there is much inflammation. It has been supposed
to be constitutional, and to be caused by something in the water used,
but experience has convinced me that this is not the case. I would
hazard the conjecture that the boil is caused by the deposition under the
cuticle, by the mosquito or other insect, of the ova of some microscopic
parasitic animalcules, which, in the process of growth and maturation,
give rise to the sores and keep up the irritation until their course is run.
At all events, a rigorous microscopic examination of the discharge from
the sores might reveal the nature of the disease, and suggest the proper
treatment.
The most common diseases of this country are fevers, diarrhoea,
rheumatism, and ophthalmia. Dysentery is rarely met with, and abscess
of the liver equally so.
It is unnecessary to enter more into detail on the sanitary means to be
adopted and the precautions to be used by an Anglo-Indian army in this
country. They may be summed up in a few words. Mohamreh,
Busreh, and the low country should be avoided in summer and autumn;
exposure to the sun in June, July, August, and September should be
guarded against, and the heat of tents or barracks should be mitigated
as much as possible. During the months of December, January, and
Pebruary we have a different state of things to deal with. At that
season warm clothing is necessary, and fires even might occasionally be
used with advantage. As it is always desirable to have a station at no
great distance, which might be used as a sanatorium for the more speedy
and complete recovery of those affected with fever and chronic visceral
complaints, it may be noted that we have for selection the whole range
of the Luristan and Kurdistan mountains, the choice being determined
by political considerations and the position of the army. The latter,
however, is of less consequence, seeing that the Tigris is navigable as far
as Samarreh, which is only a few days' march from an eligible position
in Kurdistan. The Hamrin range of hills, which vary in height from
300 to 500 feet, are only about sixty or seventy miles to the north of
Baghdad, and might be made useful in the hot weather, if removal to
the more remote mountains were considered inexpedient. .
May 1885.