Lækningalán

Jón Jónsson (1772–1866) was a pastor at Stærri-Árskógur and Grenjaðarstaður. Although he had no formal medical training, he was granted permission in 1812 to practise medicine within his parish. This permission was renewed by the King in 1816 and was then extended to cover the counties of Eyjafjörður and Þingeyjar.

People from much farther afield also sought his help, including patients from Skagafjörður and the Múlasýslur, and even from more distant regions. Eight detailed medical journals kept by Jón have been preserved, recording his medical work and documenting approximately 400 patients per year. The journals give the names of the patients, detailed descriptions of their illnesses, and accounts of the treatments and remedies that Reverend Jón employed in his efforts to alleviate their ailments.

The journals span the years 1816 to 1831. This volume publishes two of them: one covering 1816–1818 and the other from 1827.

These journals constitute a unique historical source from the first half of the nineteenth century.

ISBN 9789935233677

Editors Jón Torfason, Ásgeir Böðvarsson og Brynja Grétarsdóttir

Publisher The University of Iceland Press, 2026

Format Softcover, 23 cm

Pages 495