The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-12-13
Leprosy in Norway.

EDITOR BULLETIN
The following official statistical
report on leprosy in Norway, which
recently appeared in "Morgen-
bladet," the leading daily of Christ
iania, contains some very interesting
statements, which seem of sufficient
import to deserve publication here,
suggesting as they do the possibility
of curing the dread direase, which
popular opinion here at least con-
siders incurable.
According to the official report on
the Lepers in Norway for the 5 years
from 1SS1-lSS5, altogether 1895
lepers were known at the close of
1885, 522 of whom were found in the
hospitals Cor asylums). Upon later
examination 1872 more have been
found, who were unknown at the
preliminary count, according to
which the total number of known
lepers at the close of 1885 would be
1877.
At the close of the years ending
1890 494 male and 476 female lepers,
or altogether $50 persons, were
known, 5O7 of whom were in the
hospitals and 453 outside, in the
different districts.
At both of these periods the dis
ease prevailed in the same IA of the
20 judicial districts of the country,
viz: From the county of Stavanger
(the westerly poinD along the north
west coast up to and including the
county of Nordland, with greatest
prevalence in North Bergenhus
county. Taken as whole, and in
most of the counties, the disease
shows a decided decrease. In 1885
it appeared in 1877 city and country
districts; in the course of the period
of 5 years, cases of leprosy have APP
peared in II new districts and is re-
ported to have disappeared in 81
districts; hence the number of cities
and districts where the disease was
known at the close of 1890 would be
161. During the 5 years AZ persons
were cured, viz: ID in the hospitals
and % outside. The number of
deaths was $50, of which 3l6 oc-
Cured in the hospitals and 243 in
the districts. Out of number OF
553 lepers 1876 died, according to the
report of the head physician, in
1889: Ill in 1887; 80 in 1888; sc in
1889 and 122 in 1890.
OF these, 1923 were males, 23l fe-
males; "a of them were between 80
and 60 years of age, 81 between GO
and 70 years, so between 20 and SO
years, and Is between so and sc
years old!
OF the lepers remaining at the
end of 1890, 40 persons (247 males,
DOB females) suffered from the
"knotty" (tuberculous) form of lep-
rosy, 444 (204 males, 240 females,
from the smooth" (anasthetic,
variety, and As (33 males, ID females,
from the ''mixed" variety,
The two youngest lepers were c
and 9 years old respectively; their
number increases for every class OF
ages up to the age of so to 60, when
the number again decreases. The
oldest known lepers We're between
80 and 100 years old, and residing in
the district of Strinden, county Of
Thronjew.
The number of lepers reported a.
admitted To the hospitals since lS0t
is 4641, deduct from this as returned
to their homes, 1897, and transferred
to other asylums (?) ITO, a total o
1907, leaving balance of 3434 per
sons. At the end of the year 1856
the hospitals contained 235 lepers
besides these were known as lepers
2642, total of 2S77.
OF new cases for the year 1857 t.
1890 are reported 1864. If to thes'
be added above mentioned, "a, thu
aggregate number of known leper
for the % years from 1856 to 1890 il
1886.
OF these, again, 1856 are reported
= as cured as outside and 10 in thu
leper asylums) and 6l73 as deac
(3049 in the asylums and 1924 out
side). Now, these figures tend t.
show that the terrible scourge is un
, questionably decreasing in Norway