1895.] MYODES LEMMUS. ST 

and migratory year throughout the greatest portion of southern 
Norway, and the distriets around the Trondhjem Fjord. It is 
thus stated in Medical Reports for that year! from Söndre 
Trondhjem”s Amt that: — *the so-called "Lemming Fever” is 
said to have originated in Yttre Fosen, where immense swarms 
of lemmings had, occasionally to å very great extent, polluted 
the wells of the district. The same had been tha case in Indre 
Fosen, during the last three months of the year; in Stadsbygden, 
Rissen, and Nordre Fosen in November and December. The 
disease was accompanied by fever, with diarrhæa and vomiting; 
occasionally angina, and wulceration in the cavity of the mouth, 
and swelling of the sub-maxillary glands, and often the forma- 
tion of abscesses in the glands of the throat, the arm-pit, and 
several other parts. The duration of the disease was, usually, 
eight days, sueceeded occasionally by considerable debility.” 
Similar reports were -made during that year from other of 
the over-run districts, as from the districts about Kongs- 
vinger (Dr. Juell). 
* Lemming Fever? 
p) 
is thus å disease which, im its phenomena, 
is related to scarlet fever. Its origin 18 regarded, both by medical 
men and the populace, as having a certain connection with the appear- 
ance of the swarms of lemmings, and the pollution of water by 
their putrifytng carcasses and dung durimg dry summers. 
19. Great Migratory Years. 
Reports concerning great migratory years in olden times 
are very incomplete. Occasionally accounts of the migrations 
will be found in some of the old topographical deseriptions of 
various parts of Norway, from the latter part of the previous 
I Beretning om Sundhedstilstanden og Medicinalforholde i Norge i 
Aaret 1891, p. 72 og p. 200. (Christiania 1898). [Report on the Condi- 
tion of Health and Medical Matters in Ne during the year 1891, 
. 72, and p. 200. (Christiania 1898).] 
