ABSTRACT
SINCE 1918 great progress has been made in the provision of medical facilities, and much knowledge has accumulated regarding the most prevalent diseases. Measures taken for the control of some of the most important infectious diseases have achieved noteworthy success. Without vital statistics, however, no exact appraisement of the public health of the country is possible. Births are recorded only in the large towns, and there inadequately. The causes of death in towns are still often decided by subordinate health officials and in rural areas they are frequently not determined at all. Populations and migration figures are not accurately known. Ages as given by the people are unreliable. Nevertheless hospital and dispensary returns, which are published in detail, afford much information concerning public health in Iraq.
