[Public health in eastern Skania 1860-1899--a study based on district medical officer's reports].

During the last decades of the 19th century Sweden changed from being a developing to a developed country. It was a period when many people emigrated to America and Denmark, due to miserable times. The aim was to investigate the status and development of the public health in the eastern part of the province Skane, Sweden, during the years 1860 to 1899. The investigation included a study of differences in health between city and countryside, men and women, and health problems now and then. The official reports of provincial doctors (general practitioners) from Brosarp (1860-1899) and city doctors from Kristianstad (1883-1899) were studied. The reports included conscription reports, tables of illnesses and deaths, and an annually summarized health report of the district. The district of Brosarp was a very poor area, due to its topographical location. The poverty brought illness, but not as much as could be expected. The infant mortality rate was lower than for the rest of the country. The long distances between the villages impeded the transmission of infectious diseases. The health situation in Kristianstad was also affected by its topographical location. The humid and densely populated city was a hotbed for infections. Sanitary improvements in both Brosarp and Kristianstad resulted in a better health situation at the end of the 19th century. There were several similarities between the studied areas and the developing countries of today, for example regarding malnutrition, traditional medicine and problems with contaminated drinking water. Compared to the health problems of today, poverty and infectious diseases were greater problems during the studied period of time, while problems related to diet and alcohol drinking were similar. More research is needed to relate the public health in Brosarp and Kristianstad to that in other Swedish districts during the same period of time.