Distribution of Leprosy. 111
the Aryan and Scythian immigrants, who entered India from
the north-west; (3) mixtures of the two in all degrees of pro-
portion; (4) immigrants from the coasts, such as Parsis, Jews,
Arabs, and lastly the English, and other Europeans; and
(5) Eurasians, the mixed descendants of Europeans and other
races."36 " The population of Burma is more uniform; it includ-
es several distinct tribes, but the great majority of these are of
the same or nearly allied races, and the absence of caste dis-
tinction allows of their amalgamation to a greater extent than
in India, at least in those parts of the country that are settled
and civilised."37
Now leprosy affects all these ethnic elements, though
severally to a different degree. It does not spare the European
of unmixed blood, and the Commissioners during their personal
enquiries met with five cases representing three nationalities,
German, French, and English. Eurasians suffering from
leprosy are frequently found. These facts, however, are so
well-known that it is hardly necessary to delay any further over
them. It may be interesting to mention that since 1860 from
the European army (Bengal, 1860-69, and India, 1870-89),
two soldiers have been invalided on account of leprosy, one
from the Bombay Army in 1879, and the other from the Madras
Army in 1887; and two have been admitted for the same cause.
For the following details the Commissioners are indebted to
the Statistical Medical Officer with the Government of
India:-
EUROPEAN ARMY.
(Bengal, 1860-69 and India, 1870-89).
Total invalided . . . 55,858
Invalided for-
Venereal diseases. . . 2,829
Phthisis . . . 3,968
Leprosy . . . 2
Admissions for leprosy 2 1 in Bengal Army in 1877.
1 in Madras Army in 1886.
(36) H. E. Blandford. Op. cit., page 35.
(37) Ibidem, page 36.