'MILITARY REPORT ON PERSIA. VOL. IV, PART II.' [‎55v] (115/212)

such force that it brings with it clouds of a highly impal-
pable sand. In the autumn the heat is more oppressive than in
the summer, hut in winter and spring the climate is pleasant.
The cold is never great and snow seldom falls. The rains,
which are not heavy, fall in the winter or early spring and are
almost always accompanied by a south-east wind, which, though
often violent, hardly ever continues for more than three or four
days at a time.
The inhabitants depend largely for their water-supply on
wells and on cisterns and reservoirs built with great labour to
collect the scanty rainfall. The above also applies to the sea
port of Lingeh, where the water from hirkeh* is almost ex
clusively used, as that of the webs is brackish.
General Medval Con'liHon*.
Drinking water should alwavs fie boiled, or treated
chemically except when drawn straight from a spring. Dust
is Very bad during summer and autumn, and, with the glare
and consequent prevalence of eye diseases, makes coloured
spectacles desirable. Mosquitoes flourish up to 4,000 feet,
wherever there is stagnant water ; malaria therefore is prevalent
and mosquito nets necessary : these are also useful during the
day to keep off the swarms of common flic*. Sand flies are
ubiquitous and troublesome : they may he in a measure avoided
by sleeping well away from any walls. Muslin bags are recom
mended for sleeping in. Only muslin or nets of mesh 24 strands
to the inch give protection. Repellants such as Oil of Citronella,
Vermijelli, Oil of Eucalyptus, Oil of Bergamol in Kerosine, etc.,
have been recommended.
(if tropical diseases malaria and salek are the only common
ones. The latter is probably the same as the Delhi boil, and is
a very indolent sore, which heals over, only to break out anew.
It leaves a disfiguring scar, usually affects the face and
forearms, and may be avoided by frequent washing and
the use of antiseptic soap. It is probably contagious from
ease to case and also from dogs, which suffer from it. Possibly
also it is conveyed by some insect. An attack gives immunity.
To avoid it all slight wounds should be kept covered. Guinea
worm (draeunculus medinensis) is prevalent in some parts
especially at Lingeh, due to the drinking water being from
db-ambdrs (local name reshta).
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