The roots of Norwegian epidemiology – Norwegian epidemiology in the 19th century

When we try to identify the historical roots of epidemiology, a clarification of what we are looking for is not trivial. The concept of epidemiology in the 19 century is far from obvious. In general, epidemiology is motivated by an urge to hinder disease from occurring with needs of action in terms of preventive medicine. Essential is a search for risk factors; preferably modifiable risk factors that would be strategic in the fight against disease or in the prevention of disease. In this perspective, Norwegian epidemiology is rooted in the 19 century. Epidemiology in the 19 century seems to relate to two different contexts. In part, the development was related to a gradually evolving concern for the wellbeing of a deprived population which early in the century initiated a broad so called reform movement. In part epidemiology was rooted in more acute and thereby more challenging incidents e.g. epidemics with an urgent need to search for the cause of a specific disease in order to combat and prevent an important specific public health problem.