( 5 )
11. It may be observed of the above list, that many of the places where the
disease appears to arise most frequently are populous cities, and the greatness of
the population may account for the unusual number of cases originating therein,
peculiarity of locality having nothing to do with the prevalence. But this line of
argument will not account for the undue prevalence of leprosy in a village of small
population, as, for example, in Parásan in Jalaun. It is certainly not impossible that
even in the case of a small village, leprosy commencing there may in every case
be due to hereditary taint. But as this enquiry proceeds, evidence of a commence-
ment of the disease " de nova" in some individuals will appear, and it seems not un-
likely that the conditions under which this untoward circumstance arises, may be
profitably studied amongst the lepers of a small village. This I purpose doing
when opportunity occurs. In regard to Parásan, I may add that the Civil Surgeon
of Jalaun attributes the undue prevalence of leprosy there to the filthy state of the
village, and to general insanitary conditions surrounding the inhabitants.
12. Leprosy, as it appears in this Province, seems to be a diseased condition
much more prevalent amongst men than women.
The census statement is 8,160 male and 1,939 female lepers existing in the
Province in 1872—about four males to one female. Of 2,155 cases of which I have
the particulars of sex—namely 1,502 in the histories and 653 in the Etah numerical
abstract—1,966 are cases of males and 189 cases of females—about ten males to one
female. This latter estimate maybe in excess of the truth, because, for the purpose of
examination, it is more likely that males would present themselves ; yet, taking the
case of the two districts—Mainpuri and Etah—with their full record of all existing
lepers, I find that, out of 1,125 cases, 1,067 are male and 58 female—about eighteen
males to one female.
Altogether, there cannot, I think, be a doubt that the male constitution, or the
circumstances of male life, are peculiarly favourable to the development of the
leprous condition.
13. Of the 2,155 cases above-mentioned, 244 are cases of Muhammadans
and 1,911 cases of Hindus—or about eight Hindus to one Muhammadan. As the
ratio of population is rather more than six Hindus to one Muhammadan, this would
seem, to show a preponderance of Hindu lepers, but not to such extent as to pro-
vide ground for the consideration of leprosy as specially a disease of Hindus.
Rather, I think, for all practical purposes, it may be considered a disease equally of
Muhammadans and Hindus. Nor, indeed, are Christians exempt; for Dr. Fitzgerald,
of Sháhjahánpur, records three cases of leprosy in Europeans resident in India which
have come to his knowledge—one the case of a lad, son of a warrant officer at
Agra; the second, the case of a lady ; the third, the case of a Colonel in the Indian
Service. And amongst the cases reported from Meerut is one of a Native Chris-
tian employed in the Mission there, who first suffered from the disease at Mussooree.
And, I think, it may be concluded that there is nothing in religion, or habits
resulting therefrom, conducive to leprosy,
14. In regard to employment, the habits and circumstances arising therefrom,
a very complete account is given in the histories, of the employment or means of
livelihood of each individual at the time of first attack, and the account carefully
summarized provides the following results :
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Cultivators
Labourers
Bankers, shopkeepers, traders
Servants, soldiers, officials
Supported by relatives (being women
or children).
Beggars
Weavers
Landlords
Cowherds
Blacksmiths
Carpenters
Oil- makers
.
Potters
Carriers (kahars)
.
Barbers
Syces and grass-cutters
Tailors
Sweepers
Shoe-makers, tanners .
Washermen (dhobis)
Priests (Brahmans so employed)
Gardeners
Water-carriers (bhisties)
Cart-drivers
Grain- par chers or grinders
Carried over
...
Number
so em-
ployed at
time of
first
attack.
552
210
117
72
68
65
50
42
24
23
22
22
20
19
19
IV
16
15
15
14
12
12
10
11
10
1,457
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44,
45
46
47
48
49
Employment.
Brought forward ...
Fisherman and boatmen
Shepherds
Lawyers, clerks, brokers
Dyers
Masons
Goldsmiths
Chick or basket-makers
Prostitutes
Confectioners
...
Horse or cattle dealers
Butchers
Betel-makers
Wood or bamboo-cutters
Bangle-makers
Tile-makers
...
Dacoit
Bird-catcher
Distiller
Breeder of fowls
Tinman
Cutler (sikligar)
Ekka driver
Musician
Firework-maker
Total
Number
so em-
ployed at
time of
first
attack.
1,457
9
7
7
5
5
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
I
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1,631