PART II. J 



Leprosy in its Relation to Caste. 



477 



relatives and 10 in which female relatives were affected. Among the female 

 lepers, on the other hand, there were 4 cases in which male and 6 in which 

 female relatives were affected. The above figures are too limited in amount to form 

 definite conclusions from, but they suggest the possibility of the existence of a 

 tendency in the disease to adhere by preference to one or other sex in a leprous 

 family. 



The special conditions favouring the development of the disease in the pre- 

 disposed is a matter for further inquiry. The data attainable from the examination 

 of the inmates of the Asylum did not throw much light on the point. The disease, 

 so far as can be judged from these cases, would not appear to be specially 

 prevalent among any particular class of the community, as is shown in the following 

 statement: — 



TABLE XX. 

 Leprosy in relation to Caste. 



As the inhabitants of Kumaon virtually consist of two classes only — Rajputs and 

 Domes, the former representing an Aryan population, the latter the aboriginal people 

 — whilst other classes are only very sparingly represented, the evidence, such as it 

 is, is in favour of impartial distribution of the disease. 



The question of the influence of occupation in connection with the etiology of 

 leprosy will be considered on a future occasion. 



9. — The number of Children horn in the Asylum., in connection with the 

 statistics of the disease in the District. 



In connection with the question of heredity, and more especially in regard to 

 the risk of an increase of the leper population of a district, the number and 



* According to the Census Report of the North-West Provinces (1873) the composition of the Hindu 

 population of the district of Kumaon in regard to caste is as follows : — 



Brahmans (a) 25-4 ; Edjputs 42-6 ; Buniyahs 0"8; other Hindu castes 31*2 = 100. 



(a) " Among the lower ranks of Brahmans, great latitude is taken in regard to labour, food, etc., and 

 their claim to the distinction of that caste is, in consequence, little recognised ; the mass of the labouring 

 population from similar causes have still less pretension to the designation of Rdjputs which they assume. 

 The Domes are, of course, outcasts, and to them are left the whole of the inferior trades, — those of 

 carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, miners, musicians, etc., — and by them also are performed the most menial 

 offices." — '"Statistical Sketch of Kumaon," by G. W. TUMh.— Asiatic Researches, Vol. XVI. 



