[The "rade"disease--a Norwegian tragedy]

The rade disease (radesyken) was wide-spread particularly in southwestern Norway during the 18th and 19th centuries. The fight against this disease prepared the grounds for the public health services in this country. It was suggested that radesyke was a manifestation of syphilis, although with some uncommon epidemiological and clinical features. This paper reminds of the sufferings that this medical disaster inflicted on thousands of patients of all age groups during the 150 years of its presence in Norway. The clinical picture of radesyke is presented based on descriptions of 63 patients treated by Dr. Hendrich Deegen at the radesyke hospital in Flekkefjord in the years 1776-78. Finally, a brief reference is made to probable causes of the particular manifestations of this disease in Norway during that period.