( 4 )
and soil should generally afford some explanation, but there are no peculiarities
which'would lead to the origin of such a terrible disease. The lower classes of
Mysore are pooi- and they suffer much from fever which debilitates their constitu-
tion, and reduces their means of living ; and thus they fall into chronic cachexies
and bad state of health ; but whether this has anything to do with the develop-
ment of leprosy, I am not prepared to say.
I have not been able to discover whether any particular locality is markedly
more affected than another. According to the statements given by the revenue
officers, the Eastern parts furnish more cases than the Western, but the data are
scarcely reliable.
The disease is, however, no doubt mild in kind, seldom to be seen in its most
dreadful and loathsome forms. The ansesthetic. variety is very much the most
common.
Of the 42 cases now in the Leper Asylum at Bangalore, 20 are anaesthetic,
9 tubercular, and 13 mixed. These cases all belong to the lower orders, and
followed menial occupations Thei-e are 8 Mussalmans, 13 Pariahs and 21 low
castes (Hindus), 24 are men and 18 women, 25 are married and 17 single : of the
married 16 have children, most of whom are affected with the disease. The ages
of these patients vary from 4 to 60 years, and their residence here 3 to 30 years ;
11 of them belong to Madras or the plains where they were when the disease first
appeared, 20 belong to Bangalore and are of a mixed race, 11 to the districts.
This shews that but one quarter of the number are properly of the Mysore Pro-
vince. They are kept in separation, but hitherto those who have been married pre-
vious to admission have been allowed to live together. The treatment consists
chiefly in cleanliness and applications of gurjun oil to the sores ; tonic medicines
internally or what may be required ; good diet and attention to sanitary matters.
Suffering is mitigated, and the disease is sometimes temporarily arrested, but
Mr. D'Cruz, the Apothecary, who has been in immediate charge of the asylum
for many years, informs me that he does not know of a case of complete cure.
They are not allowed to go out, but have no particular employment in-door.
The asylum is not a good one, being merely part of an old jail, and is defec-
tive in many ways, but still it is a refuge and a place where the leper can go to be
out-of-the-way of public sight.
This is one of the most dreadful diseases in its worst forms with which man-
kind is afflicted, destroying as it does both body and mind, health and happiness.
It is a sad fact that these unfortunate lepers, shocking as they are to sight, are still
more to be pitied in the evidence they shew of quarrelsome disposition and an
unhappy state of mind.
The practical conclusion of an enquiry into this disease should be, I think,
that every thing should be done to eradicate it, and great care taken to prevent
its spread whether by intermarriage, by insanitary habits, by inoculation or vaccina-
tion, or by irregular living. That information regarding it (as far as can be got)
be made known, and attention to sanitary laws impressed or enforced amono· the
people ; that marriage be discountenanced in mild cases, and prohibited in bad ;
and that all bad cases be placed in leper asylums for detention there under-
proper care.
BANGALORE;
The 10th January 1878.
J. HENDERSON,
Offg. Surgeon to the Mysore Commission.
D. Ν. M.—Home, Kev. & Agri. Dept. Press—No. 455—19-8-79—100.