Rheumatic diseases in Denmark.

In 1946 The National Danish Association against Rheumatic Diseases and The Danish Society for Rheumatology in co-operation with Dansk Gallup Institut conducted a general investigation into the number and nature of rheumatic diseases in the population of Denmark. Denmark proper, with an area of 42,931 sq. kilometres and a population of about 4 millions, lies in Northern Europe between Lat. 57.70 and 54 6° N. and Long. 8 10 and 15. 2 E. The climate is temperate. The mean temperature is approximately 0° C. in January and 16-17° C. in July. The prevailing winds are westerly. Annual precipitation varies from 45 to 80 cm., and the annual number of days of precipitation from 118 to 192. A country like this is especially suited for an investigation of this nature; it is homogeneous in regard to population, geography, climate, and sanitary and social conditions, and the compulsory notification of diseases is quite comprehensive. Moreover, communications are so good that the country can be covered by a relatively small number of investigators within a very short time. Hospital reports are extensive, and afford good and accurate information, and, owing to the uniform tuition and frequent professional contact between doctors, standards of diagnosis also tend to be uniform.