And others in agricultural and commercial matters, as detailed by the committees it appointed to consider matters of schools and education. The provincial councils spent 16,673 Egyptian pounds on establishing necessities and 24,000 Egyptian pounds on health projects, including the training of educators. A group of them learned the principles of surgery and were given medicine chests to use in the country. Ophthalmic hospitals were established in Damanhur, Akhlet El Kobra, Kafr El Zayyat, Fayoum, and Minya, and Qena. Ophthalmic hospitals were established in the Assiut province, and hospitals for the isolation of those infected with contagious diseases were established in Deirout, Talla, El Taabtoon, Minya, Ashmoun, and Mansoura. 98,000 Egyptian pounds were spent on establishing regular hospitals in Zagazig and Kafr El Sheikh. Dispensaries and pharmacies for children were established in the cities of Fayoum, El Gezira, Mansoura, Menouf, and Tanta. Some of them were completed, and others are close to completion. 2,268 Egyptian pounds were allocated for filling in ponds and swamps detrimental to health in Sharqia, Dakahlia, Monufia, Gharbia, and Qena.

From the foregoing, it appears that these councils did not lack enthusiasm in education, nor did their efforts diminish from the previous year. They desire attention to public benefit works. However, I was concerned when I observed that some of these councils, especially the councils of Minya, Gharbia, and Beheira, had some of their members absent from a few of their sessions. I am concerned about those who are reluctant to attend, either due to their diminished interest in the matter or because their free time does not allow them to spend extended periods reviewing the increasing and arduous details of their work. This work requires them to leave their positions to others who can devote more attention to duties that will undoubtedly increase in importance and demand more time over the days.

- 34 - Municipalities and Local Councils The number of mixed councils or municipalities remained in 1912 AD. Both local councils in Assiut recently requested to be converted into two separate councils. Twenty-one cities requested the establishment of local councils. Talha, Kafr El Sheikh, and Fouh opened them, and twenty of them were established because their people offered to impose a voluntary tax for the revenue of these councils. The council in the city of Adfu was also praised due to its special importance.