NATIONAL HEALTH STUDY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1924, Page 3

NATIONAL HEALTH STUDY

SWEDISH SCHEME. The complete investigation of personal health records, extending had. through .several generations and covering a whole nation, has lieen undertaken by the Swedish Institute ot Uncial Biology, the lirst Government institution of its kind in the world, which has just turned in the report of the second year of its work.

I'nder Professor H. Lundhorg. who organised the institute, anthropological statistics have now been gathered concerning 81,-127 persons. Stature, head measurements, colour of eyes and hair, diseases, especially hereditary diseases, causes of death, etc., arc among the things observed by the investigators. In the northern provinces ol Sweden, where Lapps. Finns, and Swedes have intermarried, the death rate i.s relatively high. Special genealogical studies have, therefore, lteen undertaken in this region in order to ascertain, if possible, what effect race mixture has on longevity. In three villages, for example, genealogical histories have been drawn up for the entire population, covering a period of 12-5 years. In another community the histories ol 1200 lamilies have been 1 1 accd during the period 1781-18.51. Another subject that at present occupies the attention of Professor Liindhorg and his assistants is the ancestral history of twins and triplets. During last year the genealogies of 1.17 pairs of twins were drawn up mid studied.

Hesearch into the histories ot families is greatly facilitated liy the unusually accurate parish registers which have been kept and preserved for hundreds of years, and also bv the fact that the entire history of any given family is usually confined to Sweden. There has been almost no increase of the population through immigration. and the Swedes are said to have preserved greater racial purity than any other Teutonic | eople. Incidentally, it is shown by archaeology that the history of the piescnt inhabitants of Sweden goes back .5000 years in the same place. The accumulation of data regarding hereditary disease, the development of criminal instincts, and other traits, is only a part of the programme of the Swedish Institute of Uncial Biology. It is also conducting research work into the elimination of racial taints through eugenic measures. Ilcscarcli is also being directed into tbe field i i eugenics and the development of individual talent and genius.

'or continuation of news s»*o fourth page).