Heilbrigðisskýrslur - 01.12.1938, Page 177

173
surance of Reykjavík). Similar institutions for the prevention of
tuberculosis have now been established in all the largest towns, run
by the respective societies receiving grants in a like manner to that
in Reykjavík.
Other Health Institutions.
There are only a few other institutions concerned with the care or
prevention of illness and protection of health. There is a State deaf and
dumb school (in Reykjavík) and one asylum for mentally deficient
children and women with accommodation for 20 persons. There is
really a great need for another asylum for grown up boys and men,
and one for drunkards. It is proposed to build both these institutions
in the near future with the aid of a Government subsidy. The very
excellent modern swimming bath in Reykjavík may be also included
with health institutions. The water for the basin is supplied from the
hot springs in the vicinity of the town. Swimming baths with natural
hot water may also be found in numerous popular high schools and
elementary schools in different parts of the country, undoubtedly to
the great benefit of the young people of the country. It still remains,
however, to utilize the numerous possibilities for health resorts, pro-
vided by the hot springs so rich in sulphur of which some at least are
radioactive. The first real attempt of this kind is now in preparation.
There is in Reykjavík an excellent institute for old people, with
accommodation for 150, and we also find smaller hoines for old people
in some other towns. Of institutions for children there are hardly
any except day homes for children in Reykjavik and a few other towns,
and it is not an infrequent occurrence that nursing- or charitable
societies arrange for homes for children in the country districts during
summer.
VI. Voluntary Bodies for the Prevention of Accidents
and Diseases, for the Relief of the Sick and Furthering
of Public Health.
There are very few voluntary bodies of this description. A powerful
body The Nationnl Life Saving Association of lceland, operates all over
the country in many divisions and has numerous problems to solve.
A Societij for thc Prevention of Tuberculosis operated for a time and
established the first and still the largest sanatorium for tuberculosis
in the country (in 1909). Rut when the State took into its hands the
running of the sanatorium and the tuberculosis affairs as a whole,
the society ceased its activities. We have above mentioned the various
nursing societies and the nursing activities of the woinen’s clubs,
but in addition to these there are various funds to enable sick people
to get into hospitals; most of these funds were established hy legacies.
“The Friends of the Blind Society of Iceland” has for several years
Worked for the assistance of the blind and a corresponding society