( 5 )
and m one a cousin were lepers, and in one instance both father and grandfather
were such.
20. In one of the instances in which the father and son had it, there was this
further point of interest, that in both the disease showed itself just at the same age.
viz., 38 years. The Civil Surgeon of Unao, Surgeon Ghose, mentions a similar case
within his own knowledge, where in one family the sons became lepers, and all at
the same age; none of the daughters were affected.
21. These are examples of the known law that in hereditary disease there is
always a tendency for it to show itself at the same age in each successive genera-
tion afflicted, and this is of some interest in connection with a circumstance well
known, and noted by most reporters, that children born of lepers, after the disease
has shown itself, are most often healthy, which is not antagonistic to the hereditari-
ness of leprosy, but depends on the facts that—
(1) a leper need not necessarily beget a leper, his offspring may remain
free all their lives;
(2) that the tendency of this, like other hereditary diseases, is to return
at a certain age ; and
(3) that without doubt atavism plays an important part in the hereditary
descent of leprosy.
22. In 16 of the 26 cases the descent was direct from father or mother to
sons, but out of all proportion from the father, and in one of these, two of his
brothers besides were lepers. In one case a brother was also affected, but no
information is given about father, mother or grandparents. Possibly it was heredi-
tary from some previous generation. In three cases the grandparents, and not
the parents, were lepers—examples of atavism.
In three cases uncles were affected and not the parents. This points to descent
from grandparents direct in the case of the uncles with the lapse of one gener-
ation in the case of the patient.
In one case a cousin was also affected. No mention is made of the uncle
(father of the cousin) having been a leper. This also indicates hereditary descent
with an intermission.
23. If atavism does play this role, it is at once evident how difficult it must
be to get evidence on the question of comparative hereditary.
The Civil Surgeon of Bahraich mentions a case somewhat interesting, though
chiefly as showing the baneful effects of close intermarrying : "Two lepers are
related", he writes, "to each other, and there are three albinos in the same family.
The five individuals belong to a bradari of 22 houses or families. They are of the
Bunnia caste, and they never marry out of their own bradari. One of the present
three albinos had a nephew who was an albino, but is now dead". Albinism is
well known to be hereditary, but it has no more connection with leprosy than
leucoderma has.
24. On the question of contagion, all are unanimous that leprosy is not so
communicated. I have been since 1861 constantly in the habit of seeing, ques-
tioning and treating lepers, and I have never as yet come across a case of commu-
nication by contact.
Dr. A. Cameron, of Sultanpur, relates the following doubtful instances of
what might be considered communication by contact : A boy, aged eight years, whose
father had become affected with leprosy four years previously, remained with his
2 a