Heilbrigðisskýrslur - 01.12.1938, Page 191

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countries where lunacy is considered frequent, and it is all the inore
remarkable because lunacy due to syphilis hardly ever occurs in this
country. The most common form here is manio-depressive lunacy.
Suicides are reckoned to be about or within 0,l%o, but they are probably
rather more numerous.
Epilepsij. At least 300 cases of this disease are known, or up to 3%0
of tlie population.
Mental Deficiency. Congenital mental deficiency is comparatively
frequent in Iceland and there are no fewrer than 200 mentally deficient
persons, or up to 2%0 of the population, who are so mentally un-
developed that it may be assumed that they will need pennanent
support from others, preferably in asylums.
Consumption of Alcohol. During' the nation’s period of degrada-
tion the consuinption of alcoholic drinks in the eountry was great
and probably more uncontrolled among tlie higher classes. With the
general national revival begins the struggle against alcohol, ener-
getically supported hy the legislation, and the result was successful.
About the beginning of the present century, when it was clear to
everyone how much had been gained, the annual consumption of
pure alcohol per inhabitant still amounted to 2,5 litres according
to the official statistics, but everybody knew that a great deal of
alcohol was imported into the country without ever being shown
in official statistics, as there were at that time hardly any measures
taken for the observance of the customs duty laws. In 1915 a total
prohibition of alcoholic drinks w'as enforced, which, however, was
not allow'ed to be maintained for long unimpaired. The medical pro-
fession made very strong demands to be allowed unlimited alcohol
for „medical purposes" wrhich w'as granted to them, but unfortunately
they did not ahvays treat this privilege honestly although the chemists
were still more guilty in this respect. In 1921 the Althing against its
will acceded to the demands of Spain, the chief buyer of Icelandic
salt fish, to allow importation of light wines against certain conces-
sions of dutv on Icelandic saltfish. This meant, of course, the aboli-
tion of the prohibition. Under the shadow of this alcohol for “medical
purposes“ and the Spanish wines there flourished a certain amount
of bootlegging and later also home-brewing, whicli strengthened the
position of those w'ho fought against the prohibition, even if their
niost immoderate guesses regarding the consumption of alcohol in
the country never reached more than even a fraction of the amount
consumed before the prohibition wTas enforced, according to official
statistics. In 1935 the prohibition was at last completely abolished by
permitting the sale of spirits and w'ines. On the other hand the sale
of alcoholic beer was not allowed. Every loosening of the laws con-
cerning alcoholic consumption has ahvays led to a tremendous in-
crease in drinking and this reached its culmination when the sale
of strong drinks was made free. At present the State Wine Monopoly
sells alcoholic drinks amounting to about 1,2—1,3 litres reckoned
in pure alcohol content per inhabitant a year; it is indeed not a
very great deal as compared with Ihe sale in some other countries,
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