Heilbrigðisskýrslur - 01.12.1933, Qupperneq 185

181
Tlie most notable feature of the year is llie decrease in the num-
her of deatlis from tuberculosis. Since 1924 tuberculosis Iias caused
llre deatli of 2 °/oo of the whole population but in 1983 the numher
of deatlis suddenly dropped to l,5°/oo. Thorough registration ol' deaths
began in Icelánd in 1911 and only in this first vear of registration
the proportional number of deaths lrom tuherculosis was lower than
in 1933. In tliis connection the enormous decrease in the cases of
meningeal tuberculosis may be mentioned as a very notable í'act. Not
onlv has this disease never caused fewer deaths since 1911 but the
percentage as compared witli the total number of deaths from tuber-
culosis has never heen lower. On pages 46 47 is a survey of the
total number of deaths from tuberculosis (all forms) in the whole
country during the years 1911 1933, showing tlie lotai number ol'
deatlis form tubereulosis in each year, number of deatlis per 1000
inhabitants, number of deaths from meningeal tuberculosis out of llie
total, and finally how many per cent. of the aggregate number ol'
deaths were caused by meningeal tuberculosis.
Many district medical officers in Iceland have of late increased
their eíforts to trace the origiii of tuberculous infection. Pirquet tests
on school cliildren liave proved a good guide in íinding out tuber-
culous families, but the number of doctors carrying out such tests
is still too small. This year 15 district medical officers have carried
out Pirquet test on a number of school children and the results may
be seen in table X in this book. The total result shows that 34,0 °/o
ol' the children were Pirquet positive. Tuberculous infection seems on
the wliole to be more general in towns and villages, especially some
ol' the smaller ones, tlian in the country.
The medical authorities liave planned a systematic search through-
out the country for tuberculous bacilli carriers and sources of tuber-
culous infection with a view to checking the spread of the disease
more effectually than has hitherto been possible. One such searching-
expedition was undertaken l»y way of a trial in tlie latter lialf of the
summer 1934 by a young physician, Dr. Sigurður Sigurðsson, a spe-
cialist in tuberculous diseases, wlio at the initiation of the sanitary
authorities went to a little fisliing village on tlie nortli-east coast of
Iceland, Raufarhöfn, in order to investigate the alarming spread of
luherculosis which has taken place there in recent years. The doctor’s
report on this expedition forms Part III of this book. As may be
seen from the report such investigation provides valuahle information
as to the propagation of tuherculosis and the way it spreads in indi-
vidual districts and may form the basis for practical prophylactic
measures.
The following is a translated summary of Dr. Sigurðsson’s report:
Raufarhöfn is a secluded village on the north-east coast of the
country. Number of inhabitants about 200. The reason for tliis in-
vestigation was the fact that tubefcidosis seems to have increased
greatly in tliis village during the last few years. Prior to 1928 tu-
berculosis in this village and neighbourliood was negligible according
to the opinion of tlie district medical officers. But from 1928—1934,