01489nas a2200205   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653002600058653002600084653001100110653001200121653001100133653001500144100001400159245007300173300001300246490000800259520100200267022001401269       1992                            d  c1992 Dec 1010aHistory, 19th Century10aHistory, 20th Century10aHumans10aleprosy10aNorway10aRegistries1 aSandvik H00a[Leprosy and heredity. Reflections of a district physician in 1884].  a3799-8010 v1123 a<p>During the 19th century leprosy was a serious health problem in Norway, especially in some western, rural districts. In 1856 it was decided that all leprous patients should be examined by the local doctor (District Health Officer), and registered in a national leprosy register. The patients' family relationships received special attention. Some patients tried to avoid registration, fearing that the data might be misused. After Armauer Hansen (1841-1912) discovered in 1873 that leprosy was an infectious disease, isolation of leprous patients was enforced. In 1884 Thomas Collett (1835-1898), the local doctor in a rural district of western Norway, carried out a survey of all leprous patients registered in his district, a total of 164 patients. The data from his survey provide convincing support for the view that hereditary factors play an important role in the development of the disease. Modern research has confirmed that an important gene controls the susceptibility to leprosy.</p>  a0029-2001