Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1941, Page 169

ICELAND IN THE NORTH
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and founded the Icelandic Horticultural Society. Two other
Danish physicians have also rendered great services to Iceland.
The first is Harald Krabbe, more known as scientist by discover-
ing the cause of the hydatid (echinococcus) disease, which he
studied specially in Iceland; he made it possible to modern medical
science to combat it effectively. The second is Edward Ehlers,
a specialist in skin diseases. To him is due the establishment of
the Lepers’ Hospital in Laugarnes, presented to Iceland as a
gift by the Danish branch of the Order of Odd Fellows, of
which he was a prominent member. Now this terrible disease
is almost extinct in Iceland.
The close relations between Iceland and Denmark have
naturally had the consequence that the execution of many great
public works has been entrusted to Danish firms and conducted
by Danish engineers. Thus the laying of a submarine telegraph
cable in 1906 between Iceland and the Shetland Isles was en-
trusted to the Great Northern Telegraph Company in Copen-
hagen. Great improvements of many Icelandic harbours and big
electricity plants have also been entrusted to Danish engineering
firms; thus e. g. the enlargement of the harbour of Reykjavík
was carried out by N. C. Monberg, and the construction of the
great works of Ljósafoss by Höjgaard and Schultz in Copen-
hagen.
Here must not be forgotten the important work of Thorvald
Krabbe (the son of the Danish scientist, mentioned above, and
his Icelandic wife), who for more than thirty years was super-
intendent of Icelandic lighthouses and practically the creator of
the modern Icelandic lighthouse service.
One of the foremost pioneers in the development of the Ice-
landic trawl fishing was also a Dane, Thor Jensen, founder of
the big steam trawling company “Kveldúlfur.” The name of “The
Danish seine,” now much in use in the herring fisheries, proclaims
its origin.
The cultural relations between Iceland and Denmark have
since 1918 been made closer and more intimate by two institu-
tions. First we have the Dansk-Islandsk Forbundsfond (“Danish-
Icelandic Union Fund,” Icel. “SáttmálasjóSur”), founded in con-
nection with the Act of Union between the two countries. This
foundation grants annual aids to Icelanders visiting Denmark and
to Danes visiting Iceland for purposes of study. Here we may
note the grants given to young Icelandic physicians, who get