The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-04-28

winch naS--undergone some cnange,
probably putrefactive or ferment-
ative, since Sound corn never pro-
| duces 1t. /.
"Now 1t is well known that corn
and it's products have always figured
| largely in the diet of the people of
| the South, perhaps more so in the
past than at present, yet there was a
comparative exemption from pellagra
until recently. Granting that the dis
ease is with us, and probably Of re-
cent appearance, and that it is due
to the ingestion of damaged corn, we,
in our prophylactic efforts, would
naturally look to the quality of our
corn and determine, If possible, why
1t contains this toxic substance.
at has occurred to me, and hence
my thory, that our present manner
of harvesting may have something to
do with it. Under the present-day
methods Of intensive farming 1t is a
very common practice to cut the corn,
stalk and all, at the ground, often in
state of immaturity, in order that
the ground may be planted with some
other crop, usually wheat or rye, and
this corn is packed wet and possibly
green In shock, where conditions
are favorable for fermenting and
heating, and possibly the develop
ments of the products would give
rise, when eaten, to the disease.
Further confirmation of this the
ory is found in the fact that in Italy,
and especially in the Lombardy and
Piedmont districts, the hot-bed of
| pellagra, the manner of harvesting
| corn is somewhat similar to that now
prevailing in this country, inasmuch
as owing to climatic conditions, 1t is
necessary to gather corn in partial
ly green state, or at least in a condi-
tion necessitating further drying; and
l understand the Italian Government
has issued special instructions for
| this procedure, recognizing that 1t
was from faulty curing process that
the poison developed"
DR.. ]. II. Taylor, of Columbia, 8.
| c., summarized the following points
| against the maize theory:
"The cultivation and extensive use
| Of maize antedates by about 200
| years the appearance of pellagra in
| Italy.
"There are extensive regions to-
| day where pellagra is rampant, but
| where corn Is neither grown nor
eaten, while, on the other hand, there
| are large areas where this cereal is
the principal article Of diet, with all
its fungi and bacteria, but pellagra
| Is unknown.
"The disease shows tendency to
spread slowly but widely, and inde-
pendently Of maize cultivation and
maize theories
ut attacks chiefly persons of the
| rural districts, and seldom those in
towns, though both use maize as a
staple article of diet; and, again. of
individuals in the same household,
living under identical food conditions,
often only one is attacked, the others
remaining absolutely free of symp-
toms.
"1f due, as claimed, to a toxine,
then children should, as in ergotism,
be most often attacked On the con-
trary, the adult is by great odds the
principal sufferer from pellagra."
DR.. ]. w. Babcock, of Columbia,
s. c., who, was classmate of ex-
President Roosevelt at Harvard,
says:
I'VE have reported 1877 cases, the
distribution of which indicates that
the disease prevails in nearly every
county in the State (South Carolina)
Making allowance for possible dupli-
cation of cases in the reports re-
ceived, and considering the number
of physicians who did not reply, we
believe conservative estimate would
place the number of cases of pellagra
In South Carolina at about 500."