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(1.) Tuberculated leprosy is a constitutional and inherited disease. Several
of the cases at the dispensary have been the children of lepers. Others have
denied that their fathers and mothers were affected, but professed ignorance of
the ailments of grandparents and individuals of collateral branches of their
families. The non-tuberculated form of leprosy may be due to a degree of
inherited taint slighter than in the tuberculated form.
(2.) No fact in support of the theory that leprosy is spread by contagion like
syphilis has come to my knowledge, and the case of an applicant at the dis-
pensary goes a certain way against it. This case was that of a woman with two
leprous children, aged about five and nine years, the offspring of a leprous father.
The mother was in perfect health and without a symptom of taint of the
disease.
(3.) From information given under heading IV. it is improbable that
leprosy arises from special circumstances of life, such as diet, &c.
No. 155, dated Rai Bareli, the 19th June 1876.
From—The Health Officer of Rai Bareli.
To—The Sanitary Commissioner of Oudh.
IN compliance with your circular memorandum No. 2818, dated 6th November
1875, I bave the honour to submit the following information on the subject of
leprosy in this district as an addition to the report forwarded to you on the 11th
May 1875.
2. True leprosy or elephantiasis grœcorum is met with in this district and
may be said to be endemic. It has been known from the earliest times, but no
date can be given of its first appearance. The Natives recognise two forms—the
tubercular and the anæsthetic,—but they also look upon leucoderma as a true leprosy.
The disease is not specially prevalent in any one part of the district, and, so far as
I can learn, is neither on the increase nor the decrease.
3. Endeavours have been made to obtain some reliable information as to the
prevalence of leprosy, and the Tahsildars and police have been applied to for any
information they could give. The former simply replied that the disease was not
prevalent in their jurisdiction, but the latter have furnished a list of villages
where there are three or more lepers. There are 29 such villages with an
aggregate number of 144 lepers, of whom 39 had the tubercular and 105 the
anæsthetic form of the disease. The largest number in any one village was that of
Koonsa, which numbered sixteen (three being tubercular and thirteen anæsthetic).
4. There is not any satisfactory evidence as to the manner in which leprosy
is propagated, whether by intermarriage, cohabitation, hereditary tendency, or
whether it is produced by external causes. The cases are so scattered, and the
evidence obtained from the afflicted is so contradictory, that no deductions of any
value can be drawn from it.
5. Since March 1875 there have been only five cases admitted to the
dispensary and poor-house ; they have been treated with gurjun oil as prescribed
by Dr. Dougall of Port Blair. Lepers do not show any willingness to submit
to the treatment for any length of time; they dislike being separated from their
families, and object to give up begging, which they must do when admitted to
the poor-house. Of the five cases treated four were of the anaesthetic and one of
tubercular variety; in all considerable improvement took place.
CASE No. 1.
Oomrao, Mussulman, Pathan, cultivator, aged 40 years, resident of Poorwa
Bhikhumpur, village Rustamow, Thannah Mohunganj, Rai Bareli District, a
man of strong physical conformation, affected with non-tuberculated leprosy on
1st March 1875.
Previous history.—His maternal grandfather was a leper. His father
and mother had no symptoms of the disease. Has two sisters and one brother
living, all healthy. Was attacked with malarious fever and dysentery at the age
of twenty ; but recovered health and strength in the course of a year. Has never been
in want of the necessaries of life. Has not had syphilis. About two years ago circular
skin spots 3½ inches in diameter commenced, and have since continued at
intervals to appear on the extremities and trunk. These were not preceded by