(9)
Of the 56 cases treated one was said to have been cured, seven relieved, three
died, and 45 ceased to attend.
The Assistant Surgeon in charge of the Mysadul Charitable Dispensary sub-
mits a very brief report stating that no cases of true leprosy were treated in the
dispensary durig the period to which the report refers.
He considers leprosy a very rare disease in the district, and that the five
cases simulating this disease, which were treated in the hospital during the year,
were really syphilitic affections that had been injudiciously treated with mercury
by kobirajes.
The Native Doctor in charge of the Ghattal Dispensary seems to have made
some effort to procure information, and gives the details of few cases that came
under his treatment during the past year. The disease in three of these cases was
due to hereditary influence, and in two was said to have been caused by contagion.
He reports that milkmen, washermen, weavers and silk-spinners are the classes
most frequently attacked.
He does not mention the number of cases treated during the year, nor does he
seem to think that the inhabitants of any one locality are specially liable to the
disease.
The other reports from the various quarters of the district are not worth
quoting separately.
It is, however, apparent that leprosy does not prevail in the district to any
marked extent. During the last six years I visited twice and again nearly every
quarter of the district, and I never saw many cases of this disease.
Occasionally at the charitable dispensary same cases have presented them-
selves terribly mutilated by this loathsome complaint; but as reported by the
Assistant Surgeon, they were seldom inhabitants of the town or district, but
generally unhappy creatures who were expelled from their homes on account of
their condition, and who made their way here on a begging pilgrimage to Pooree,
the ravages of the disease being greatly accelerated by the want and exposure
incidental to the journey.
Since my return I have had neither time nor opportunity to make any special
enquiry regarding this disease; but I have always considered that hereditary taint
was the principal source from which it can be traced.
Whether contagion plays an active part in disseminating the disease appears
doubtful; but the vast majority of the people here consider it contagious, and will
not, as a rule, hold any communication with persons so affected.
No. 11, dated Midnapur, the 22nd March 1877.
From-Babu ROMESH CHUNDER GUPTO, Assistant Surgeon, Midnapur.
To-The Civil Surgeon of Midnapur.
WITH reference to your circular memorandum No. 33, dated 15th January 1877,
I have the honour to state that 56 lepra cases were treated in the Midnapur
Charitable Dispensary from 1st March 1876 to end of February 1877, of which
one cured, seven relieved, three died, and 45 ceased to attend. Leprosy is rather rare
among the people of this district. The cases that came under my treatment were
mosty up-country men. They, on their pilgrimage to Juggunath, get fatigued
and disabled to walk any more, and when they arrive the station they resort to the
hospital.
I invariably used gurjun oil both internally and externally in the treatment of
leprosy, and found that, under its use for a length of time not less than two months,
the sores on the fingers and toes got more or less healed. No lepra case remained
under treatment for a longer time to enable me to know the full effect of the drug
in this disease.
No. 4, dated Ghattal, the 20th February 1877.
From-Babu RAJCUMAR Doss, Native Doctor in charge of Ghattal Dis-
pensary.
To-The Civil Surgeon of Midnapur.
I HAVE the honour to submit my report on the distribution and causation of
leprosy within the precincts of this town and its immediate neighbourhood.
c