Section 1. _

1. `(Pj` This Act may be called the Lepers Act, 1898. (2) It extends to the whole of British India, inclusive of Upper Burma, British Baluchistan, the Santal Parganas and the Pargana of Spiti ; but (3) It shall not come into force in any part thereof until the Local Government, as hereinafter provided, has declared it, applicnble thereto. - (4) The Local Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, apply this Aot or any part thereof to the whole or any portion of the territories for the time being under its administration, and may in like manner amend or cancel any such notification. 2. I n this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,- - ( I ) scleper " means any person suffering from any variety of leprosy in whom the process of ulceration has commenced ; (2) (' pauper (2) "pauper leper'' means a leper- (a) who publicly solicits alms or exposes or exhibits any sores, wounds, bodily ailment or deformity wit11 the object of exciting charity or of obtailning alms, or (b) who is at large without any ostensible means of subsistence ; `B` (3) c' leper asylum" means a leper asylum appointed under section 3 ; (4) "Board" means a Roard constituted under section `6;` and (53 " District Magistrate " includes a Chief Presidency Magistrate. I