( 5 )
As far as I have yet been able to ascertain, the disease does not seem to be
prevalent in any part of the sub-division, nor that there can be noticed any tract
where it is especially located. All that can be said at present under this head is
that in one and the same village, Emadpur, there are some seven lepers.
The extent to which leprosy exists in the sub-division can hardly be correctly
ascertained, unless the Deputy Magistrate be requested to take a census of all the
persons suffering from the disease; or that some sort of arrangement be made to
enable the medical man of the station to travel from village to village, with the
view of gathering particulars in regard to the prevalence, causation, localization,
and other facts connected with the complaint.
No. 6, dated Monghyr, the 2nd January 1878.
From—H. W. HILL, Esq., M. B., Civil Surgeon, Monghyr.
To—The Deputy Surgeon General, Dinapore.
WITH reference to your No. 3456, dated 29th ultimo, I have the honour to
submit the leprosy report therein asked for. The cause of delay in submitting
the report was owing to the non-receipt of the Surgeon General's Circular No. 134,
dated 20th December 1876. It was only received on 15th November last.
No. I.
Leprosy.
IN the absence of statistics, it is not possible to form an accurate estimate of
the extent to which leprosy prevails in this district, but judging from the number
of leprous patients that we meet with when passing by the road or presenting
themselves in the hospital for treatment, I have arrived at the conclusion that
leprosy is not uncommon here. The total number of eases of leprosy treated
in the Monghyr dispensary during the five years from 1872 to 1876 was 256 ;
the total number from all causes 40,267 ; so that leprosy formed .06 per cent. of
the totals treated.
2. Leprosy is found mostly among the lowest classes of society. I believe
it is much more common among the lower orders of Muhammadans than those of
the Hindus. This is due to the difference in habits and the nature of the food.
The Hindu, as a rule, is religiously enjoined to daily ablutions in the Gauges,
where practicable, or in some other clean water; he seldom takes fish or meat;
while the Mussalman is dirty in his habits, does not care to take a bath, and lives
mostly upon fish and putrid flesh, such as beef or buffalo's flesh.
3. In a few instances a hereditary transmission of the disease might be
traced. I have met with no case in which contagion has been suspected as the
cause. I am acquainted with several married lepers, but in none was the disease
transmitted by sexual intercourse. In many instances the disease has been attri-
buted to syphilitic infection, and I believe this to be the most fertile cause of the
disease in this district. There is no special locality to which it is confined, but is
equally distributed over the district.
4. Anæsthetic variety is the most common ; in fact, nearly three-fourths of
the cases belong to this class. Almost every day we meet with patients in the out-
door dispensary complaining of patches of anæsthesia in several parts of the body.
The colour of the affected parts is fainter than the natural hue of the skin. This is
known by the common name sunbahiri (i. e., anaæsthesia). These patches rapidly
increase in size, but in some instances they remain stationary for a long time.
The tubercular variety is not so common, but in most of these cases both varieties
are combined. This is the worst form of the disease, and most of the miserable
creatures we meet with in the roadside, devoid of fingers and toes, and covered
with loathsome ulcers.
5. It appears to be more common among males than females.
6. Gurjun oil, which has been so much used of late years, does not hold out
the prospect of bringing about a radical cure of the disease. No doubt by long
continued use there would be an improvement. The ulcers heal and the tubercular
form disappears under its use. As soon as the oil is stopped all the symptoms re-
appear as before, no case of perfect cure being yet heard of here.