Hygiene.—­The drinking-water used in camp is drawn by two steam pumps from a well sunk to a great depth close to the Nile.  The Nile water, after passing through a kind of natural filter, is thus lifted into a reservoir above the camp, and is distributed in all directions by gravity.  The bacteriological analysis made every week when the supply was first opened—­now once a month—­showed the water to be perfectly pure.

Water for washing purposes is plentiful.  Hot and cold shower-baths are installed throughout the camp.  The prisoners are obliged to use them once a week, but may, if they choose, have a bath four times a day.  In summer especially the baths are never idle.

Prisoners get plenty of soap and wash their own linen on wooden tables arranged under water taps.

Two high-pressure steam disinfecting chambers serve the camp, and once a week all blankets are passed through them.  The camp contains no fleas, lice, or bugs.

The day latrines are 100 yards from the living quarters.  They are of the Turkish kind, with movable tubs—­1 tub for every 10 men.  Every tub contains some cresol solution.  The night-soil is removed daily by the Cairo road authorities and converted into manure.  Some latrines close to the barracks are kept for night use and are locked up during the day.

Medical Attention.—­The medical service of Maadi Camp is in the hands of head-doctor Captain Scrimgeour, who in time of peace practised in Nazareth.  He is assisted by an English doctor-adjutant, and 4 Arab doctors, natives of Syria.  All these doctors speak Turkish and Arabic.  Nine English orderlies and 12 Turkish orderlies carry out the sick duties.  A dentist comes to camp when required.

The infirmary included three well-appointed quarters built in masonry, and able to hold 40 patients.

The infirmary bedding accommodation consists of iron bedsteads with spring mattress and stuffed mattress.  The blankets are warm and unlimited in number.

Illness.—­Every morning 300-400 prisoners come on sick parade.  This number represents about 8 per cent. of the strength.  Although these men often come to be treated for trifling ailments, such as slight constipation, or even a small boil, the doctors make it a rule not to prevent anyone going sick, as this course enables them to keep the closer watch upon the health of the camp.

On the occasion of our visit there were in the infirmary 7 men laid up:  1 with itch, 1 with diarrhoea, 1 with neuralgia, 1 with an abscess in the neck, 1 with articular rheumatism, and 1 with gastritis.  A prisoner who had been trepanned by the doctors on account of damage done to his skull before his capture, was gradually recovering the power of motion and his normal sensibility.

Since the camp was opened there have been 35 cases of tertian ague, all from the Hedjaz, Mecca, Taif and Jeddah; but no case of aggravated malaria.  Eleven cases of tuberculosis were sent into the Egyptian Red Cross hospitals and to that at Abbassiah.  Six cases of trachoma are now undergoing treatment with applications of protargol.  In summer there have been a few cases of ordinary diarrhoea.  The camp has not suffered from dysentery, typhoid, typhus, nor any other epidemic disease.