Structural failings drove disease control problems in the Egyptian army.

Evidence

The difficulties encountered by the health authorities in controlling the spread of disease among the soldiery, as well as providing them with some medical services, were caused in the first place by the serious structural problems that were endemic to the entire medical establishment, and that were most clearly seen in the military field hospitals. To analyze the nature of these problems, and to try and understand their underlying causes, it is probably useful to look closely at how the health authorities attempted to deal with two ailments that raised particular problems, namely scabies (uyuz) and syphilis (frengi). There are a number of reasons for choosing these two diseases. First, and most obviously, these were diseases that the authorities themselves were very concerned about both because of their high incidence and because they required a long period of treatment which meant significantly reducing the strength of the fighting force. Second, they were both diseases whose detection necessitated close and regular examination of the soldiers’ bodies, especially since soldiers often lied to the authorities rather than admit that they had contracted one of these diseases. This close medical scrutiny prompted the resistance of the soldiers to the authorities in general and also exposed the inadequate medical knowledge of the Egyptians doctors in dealing with these diseases. Third, being highly contagious, they required strict segregation of the afflicted, as well as some basic sanitary conditions for treatment, conditions that were often unmet by the regimental field hospitals that were erected in various parts of Syria. Fourth, and most importantly, dealing with syphilis necessitated a rigid control of the men’s sexual behavior, something which, in turn, required a strict segregation from the outside world which often proved difficult to enforce. — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 1121