446 Leprosy in India. [part ii. 



A— Analysis of the Statistical Records regarding Leprosy in Kumaon. 



1. — To what extent does the disease prevail in the district? 

 Before submitting the figures regarding the distribution of leprosy in Kumaon, it 

 will be advantageous to have a general idea of the principal physical features of the 

 territory under consideration. The district forms a part of the North-Western 

 Provinces, and extends in a north-easterly direction from the plains across the 

 Southern Himalayan range to the borders of the Ari province of Tibet, and the 

 central range. It is separated from Nepal on the east by the Kali Eiver, and the 

 District of Grarhwal forms its western boundary, the extreme points which it touches 

 being 29° 5' — 31° 6' north latitude, and longitude 78° 17' — 80° 5'. It extends 

 over an area of about 7,000 square miles — an area nearly as extended as the whole 

 of Wales. 



It has been truly stated that no country exhibits more extraordinary diversities 

 of elevation, temperature and climate than Kumaon. With the exception of the 

 low marshy land or terai which extends along its southern part, it consists for the 

 most part of a series of mountains, some of which are among the loftiest in the 

 world. Crystalline schists constitute the prevailing geological features. The 

 mountains do not form a continuous ridge, but a series of hills separated by deep 

 valleys, along which torrents and rivers course, and ultimately discharge themselves 

 into the Ganges and Grogra. No single temperature chart of this district could 

 be of value, seeing that the variations in its different localities are so very marked, 

 as may indeed be inferred from the fact that there are, it is said, some thirty-four 

 hills within its borders whose summits reach to 18,000 feet and upwards; consequently 

 every range of temperature is to be found, from the tropical heat of the terai and 

 the deep valleys, to an almost arctic cold. 



Previous to the year 1815 the district was under native rule, but for the last 

 sixty years it has formed a portion of the British dominions. The inhabitants are 

 for the most part of Hindu origin, but towards the northern extremity of the country 

 -they are of Tartarian descent, and are known as Bhotias. The latter inhabit 

 principally the slopes of the snowy range. Practically there are, besides the 

 Mahomedans, only two castes to be found in Kumaon — Rajputs and Domes. The 

 former, constituting the upper classes of the community, are engaged for the most 

 part in agricultural pursuits, and the latter act as menials or carry on such trades as 

 are considered of an inferior kind. 



The habits of all classes alike are, as among most hill people, exceedingly filthy, 

 and their villages in great part are devoid of any attempt at the observance of the 

 ordinary rules of public health. Man and beast live in the same dwelling all the 

 year round, the ground floor of nearly all the houses being occupied by cattle, sheep 

 and goats. That dirt, however, is of itself sufficient to induce leprosy, is strongly 

 contra-indicated by the fact that the Bhotias who inhabit the northern parts of 



