BRITISH FORCES IN IRAQ.

This report would be incomplete without mention of the very cordial spirit of co-operation that exists between the Civil Health Service and the Medical Services of the British Forces in 'Iraq.

The Health Service has to thank the Air Officer Commanding the British Forces in 'Iraq for facilities of air transport readily afforded on several occasions for its personnel on occasions of urgency, and during the cholera epidemic, when cultures for manufacture of vaccines were brought by air from Cairo; also for ambulance facilities by sea for sick officials invalided from Iraq.

The British Forces, on their part, are grateful for assistance afforded by the Civil Health Service of the nature of service of specialists, laboratory facilities, provision of medical stores and vaccines in emergency and for treatment of their personnel by Health Service medical officers in Liwas where no Military Medical Service is available.

INCIDENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN IRAQ DURING THE YEAR 1924 (continued).

Outbreaks in 1924 :

Baghdad Liwa.-Measles, plague and smallpox occurred in spring. Tikrit-measles, July and August.

Mosul Liwa.-Smallpox, Artrush, in March; measles in spring; enteric (tribal), March.

'Amara Liwa.-Measles (tribal), April; smallpox (tribal), April.

'Arbil Liwa.—Smallpox, Balek, in January and at Sanjaq in February; influenza, March and April; mumps, October and
November; measles at Akushawa in December

Diwaniya Liwa.-Plague at Rumaitha and Samawa, February; smallpox at Suwaira, February; measles at 'Afaq and
Albudair, May; smallpox in May.

Diyala Liwa.-Measles at Shahraban in January; smallpox at Khanaqin in January.

Dulaim Liwa.-Measles, April to June.

Hilla Liwa.-Smallpox, April; plague, May.

Kirkuk Liwa.-Measles, Kifri, in May; Tauq, June to August; Kifri and Qara Tepe in September; mumps, Tauq, in
September and October.

Kut Liwa.-Measles, March; plague, May; smallpox at Jassan in September and October.

Muntafiq Liwa.-Measles at Umm al Ba'rur in November and December.

6. Department of Agriculture.

SEASON.

The seasonal rains of the spring of 1923 were continued into April and May, and these, together with high floods, proved of the greatest benefit to the ripening cereal crop. The grains were well matured and fully ripened and a good harvest was taken. This would have been much bigger but for the fact that large areas of crops were inundated during the flood seasons. An abnormally cool summer followed which was of the greatest possible benefit to summer crops, but this was followed by a hot autumn, and no appreciable winter rains fell until December. This adversely affected the sowings of winter cereals and the spring of 1924 had very badly distributed rains, followed by a too sudden onset of hot weather. The result was a very bad harvest of cereals for that year. Both wheat and barley were short in the straw and shrivelled in the ear, and, owing to climatic conditions, the affects of rust and smut were very badly evident throughout the whole country. The unusually sudden onset of heat in March caused all early sown summer crops to germinate rapidly and evenly, and this was particularly marked in the case of early sown cotton. The summer of 1924 was moderate but long drawn out, and October was warm and humid. The cold weather came on extraordinarily suddenly in November, and in that month frost occurred. The autumn rains were again unduly delayed, however, and only fell when the temperature was very low, so that germination was delayed. Snow fell practically throughout the country on 26th December, a most unusual

Occurrence.

The late rains, combined with the low temperatures prevailing, have adversely affected winter sowings, and the evil is aggravated by the scarcity of grain, so that the present prospects for the 1925 harvest are not good.

The unusual cold weather has, however, had a very adverse effect on all pest life, both fungoid and insect. The succession of mild winters previously experienced had led to an enormous increase of all these, and comparatively much lighter attacks are to be expected during the coming summer.

COTTON.

The propaganda work continued in the areas of Diyala, Saqlawiya, Yusufiya, and Hilla. The area put under cotton continued to increase and the total crop for the 1923 season amounted to 1,100 bales as compared with 300 bales for 1922. Up to the close of the period under report, the 1924 crop amounted to 2,150 bales, but cotton from that season is still being delivered, and the season's crop will probably reach 2,500 bales. This crop would appear to be now firmly established, and the British Cotton Growing Association have begun to buy on "grades instead of paying a flat rate.