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No. 898, dated Gya, the 3rd October 1875.
From-R. MACLEOD, Esq., M. D., Civil Surgeon of Gya.
To-The Deputy Surgeon General, Dinapore Circle.
WITH reference to your circular memorandum No. 11, dated the 11th April
last, and enclosures, on the subject of leprosy as it exists in Bengal, I have the
honour to submit the following remarks on the disease as it prevails in this
district.
2. Through the assistance of the District Magistrate I obtained a return
from the areas, urban and rural, selected for the registration of deaths. As the
collecting agents were in some measure acquainted with this sort of enquiry,
I thought more reliable returns would be obtained than if the scheme embraced
the district generally.
3. The census return for 1872 gave the number of lepers among a population
of 1,949,750 at 1,912, whereas the return under report puts the number among a
population of 401,623 at 1,382. I have reason to believe that the latter statement
is approximately correct.
4. Of this number 108 are unmarried, 1,110 are married to healthy persons
who are alive, 159 were married to healthy persons who are now dead, while only
three are married to lepers who are alive, and two were married to lepers who are
dead.
5. One thousand two hundred and twenty-six are said not to have inherited
the disease, 70 have relatives who are affected with leprosy, and 86 have had father
or mother similarly affected.
6. The following statement shows the age and the duration of the disease
of those affected :
AGE.
Under 10 years.
10 to 20 years.
20 to 30 years.
30 to 40 years.
40 to 50 years.
50 to 60 years.
Above 60 years.
Total.
2
36
172
374
398
265
135
1,382
DURATION OF DISEASE.
6 months to 1 year.
1 to 2 years.
2 to 3 years.
3 to 5 years.
5 to 10 years.
10 to 15 years.
15 to 20 years.
20 to 25 years.
25 to 30 years.
Above 30 years.
Total.
...
44
81
257
414
363
102
78
20
23
1,382