Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎69r] (137/176)

7D
control and observation at their destinations were taken in the case of 106,323 ot
these or 92*8 per cent. The number of persons, therefore, who were lost sight ot
before completing their periods of observation was 8,230, a notable increase upon the
proportion of such hitherto obtaining. This is to be attributed to the large number
of Palestinian immigrants who, disembarking at an Egyptian port, proceed almost
directly to Palestine without any notification of their departure. Arrangements
have been made with the Government of Palestine to discourage the use of Egypt as
a route of immigration into that country.
Pilgrimage.
479. The number of pilgrims from Egypt in 1921 was 2,834. As usual all were
vaccinated against cholera before their departure from Suez. The size of the
Pil grimage, which during the war had become greatly reduced until in 1919 only
438 pilgrims left the country, is therefore increasing, though it still falls tar below
the pre-war average of 13,000 persons.
480. No undue prevalence of epidemic disease during the pilgrimage was
reported from the Hedjaz, though one case of cholera, in the person of a returning
Egyptian pilgrim, occurred at the quarantine station at Tor.
481. In connection with the regulation prohibiting the landing in Egypt of
non-Egyptian pilgrims returning from the Hedjaz to countries north of Suez, certain
difficulties were experienced during the year. These arose mainly from the fact that
the Governments concerned with such pilgrims had taken no steps to arrange shipping
facilities for those returning from the pilgrimage. The lack of such arrangements
resulted in the receipt by the public health authorities of numerous requests from
various sources to agree to a suspension of the regulation. Obviously, however, if
Egypt is to obtain a full measure of protection from her own arrangements, she can
scarcelv consent to the landing of parties of non-Egyptian pilgrims who, usually
without means, would make their way slowly through the country and expose the
inhabitants to the danger which the Egyptian Government make such elaborate
arrangements to avoid.
482. It is highly desirable, in order that the return of non-Egyptian pilgrims
should not be hindered, that the Governments concerned should make either the
necessary arrangements for their direct sea transport or such financial provision as
will permit of their proper supervision while on Egyptian territory and of their
repatriation at the earliest possible opportunity.
483. The medical officer in charge of the Mahmal escort in 1921 has reported
that facilities for the hospitalisation and treatment of sick pilgrims are practically
non-existent in the Hedjaz, and that in consequence the stock of drugs which he had
taken with him for the treatment of Egyptian pilgrims was exhausted on the return
journev before he reached Jeddah. The Egyptian Public Health Administration has
under consideration at the present moment the whole question of the provision of a
properly organised service for the treatment and hospitalisation during the
pilgrimage of the sick from amongst its own pilgrims, but the full benefit of a medical
control furnished by a provision of this nature could only be possible if similar
arrangements were made bv other countries from which pilgrims proceed to the
Hedjaz. A pilgrimage controlled from each country of origin on the lines of the
existing Egyptian arrangements and accompanied by a medical service provided by
each Government for its own nationals would do much to reduce the constant menace
to the world's health resulting from the present unsatisfactory position.
484. The usual measures for the prevention of the return of Egyptian and other
pilgrims by unauthorised land routes with the object of avoiding quarantine were
again D ut 'in force in 1921, and desert patrols were maintained for this purpose in
the Sinai Peninsula and on the Red Sea coast. Twenty-one pilgrims were inter
cepted by the Sinai patrols. None were found by the patrols operating on the Red
Sea littoral.
Authorisations to Practise Medicine, &c.
485. Durino- the year 327 authorisations were given to practise the medical or
allied professions, as compared with 3/6 during 1920. Of the persons licensed, 19/
were doctors 32 were pharmacists, 10 assistant pharmacists, 9 veterinary surgeons,.
certificated midwives, 6 dentists with registrable qualifications and 40 persons,
specially authorised to practise dentistry under the transitory section of the dental
law mentioned in my last report, whose authorisation had been delayed from last
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