( 6 )
Prom this account it appears that the disease is not specially prevalent amongst
men of any one form of employment. Indeed, I think it not unlikely the ratios, of
cases recorded, to the totals of persons existing in the Province of each form of employ-
ment mentioned in the list, would, if the figures were available, be found pretty equal.
If any undue prevalence were discoverable, it would probably appear amongst
the class employed as bankers; shopkeepers and traders.
15. The same remark applies to castes.
The castes of those afflicted with leprosy recorded in the 1,531 histories are
rather more numerous than the employments of the above list, and the caste list
teaches decidedly that caste has 110 influence on the prevalence of the disease.
The caste list and the employment list are, indeed, very much alike in regard to
what may be learnt from them, and I have preferred to give the list of employments
as more generally understandable and more pertinent to the enquiry on hand.
16. The list of employment points plainly to one fact of importance, namely,
the pretty equal prevalence of leprosy amongst the poor, or those who have to
struggle for the necessaries of life, and the rich, or those who possess the necessaries
of life with certainty.
Estimating two-thirds of the cultivators as poor, a high ratio, for many were
returned as farmers, the list of those who may have had to struggle for the neces-
saries of life will be—
Cultivators
Labourers
Beggars
Weavers
Potters
Sweepers
• * •
• ••
• • •
...
...
...
...
Total
... 368
... 210
...
68
50
... 20
15
... 731
Leaving a balance of 800 persons, of whom at least 315—namely, 117 bankers,
shopkeepers and traders; 72 soldiers, servants and officials,- 68 supported by relatives;
42 landlords; 12 priests; 4 goldsmiths—must have been living in fairly affluent
circumstances, and the remaining 485 were most likely placed above want of any
important character by the practice of their professions or employments.
Probably, by the law of ratios it might be shown that leprosy is a disease unduly
prevalent amongst those who lead a sedentary life. But the facts of the list suffice to
prove that the disease afflicts alike the cultivator or labourer of open air life with
hard fare, and the bania or merchant of sedentary habits and ample nourishment.
17. The previous list, as the heading shows, provides a statement of employ-
ment at the time leprosy first appeared in the individuals concerned. I think it is
a point of some importance to determine how these people were employed, or what
means of livelihood they possessed at the time of examination, in most cases, many
years after they were first afflicted; and the following statement provides the neces-
sary information :
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
26
27
Employment or means of
livelihood.
Beggars
...
Cultivators
Labourers
Shopkeepers and merchants
Supported by relations or friends
Servants, officials
Landlords ..
...
...
Weavers and spinners
Potters
Carpenters ...
Washermen
Syces and grass-cutters ...
Oil-makers ...
Tailors
...
...
...
Cowherds
Sweepers
...
...
Shoemakers, tanners
Carriers (kahars)
Gardeners
Barbers
,.,
...
Blacksmiths
Grain-parchers or grinders
Priests, teachers
..,
Water-carriers (bhisties)
Shepherds
..
Masons
Fishermen ...
Carried over
Number
so em-
ployed at
time of
exami-
nation.
496
363
156
110
80
40
28
19
15
15
14
14
13
13
12
12
12
10
10
9
8
8
6
6
6
5
4
1,484
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
43
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
Employment or means of
livelihood.
Brought forward ...
Confectioners
Prostitutes
Betel-sellers
Basket and chick-makers
...
Prisoners
Goldsmiths
Dyers
...
Tile-makers
Contractors for carts
By sale of property
Wood-cutters
Butchers
Cart-drivers
Ornament-makers
Lawyers and brokers
Fowl -breeders
Bird-catcher
Fireman
...
Rope-maker
...
Weighman
Distiller
Cutler
Horse-dealer
...
Total
Number
so em-
ployed at
time of
exami-
nation.
1,484
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
—
1,531