The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-01
PELLAGRA COMES
 ID BIRMINGHAM Four Cases Known to Exist In
 the District BR. FAIRNESS TALKS Says Two Cases Were Discovered But Were Not Positively Known To Be Pellagra-What the
 Disease Really Is.

Four case of pellagra, the dread and newly discovered disease, have been found to exist in the Birmingham dis trict.
 The case brought to notice is that of -Rebecca Stonewall, negro woman who four months ago enjoyed sound health, The patient is being attended by Dr. Annie M. Robinson, whose attention was called about three weeks ago to the fact that the woman was suffering from what was thought at the time to be symmetri- cal gangrene. Dr. Robinson states that she at once became interested in the matter, as tho description of the patients condition led her at once to the belief that the nalady was pellagra. The case is as yet mild one, and 1t is thought that with proper treatment the patient will recover.
 Two of the other three cases were found in patients at St. Vincents hos rital and at the county aims house. The third is in Woodlawn. The names of the ether three victims of the disease have not been divulged, but from infor- ma.ioh gained from Health Officer R. B. Hardness, the cases are genuine pellagra. pr. J. D. Heacock is the physician at tending the patient at St. Vincent's. whils Dr. $. G. stubbins has been called to attend the case at the aims house.
 First Discovery Conceded.
 pr. Hardness states that when the dls- ease was first discovered in this country fuvo firmly established that the cases were of real pellagra, however. and the discovery was not made public.
 Inquiry at the office of a well-known local physician who has made a special study of the disease elicited the follow ing information:
 "Pellagra is a disease which may rightly be termed of the nature of disorder of the nervous system. in many ways similar to symmetrical gangrene. The general symptoms of the disease are malnutrition due to an abnormal condi- ton of the digestive organs. thickening and scaling of the skin on the hands, feet and other portions of the body. and rapid cancellation of the flesh.
 'Pellagra Is not a new discovery in the field of science, as the disease has been known to exist in Africa, Italy ard other parts of Europe for many years previous to the outbreak in America. Tho fact that the malady existed in this country was first made known some two years ago, and, as in the south especial ly, the number of cases Is rapidly in- creasng.
 Disease Not Contagious.
 'erhc disease Is not believed to be con- tagious. the reason for epidemics being attributed to the fact that mouldy corn meal is thought to be the cause. Tho other theory advanced holds that pe,- lagra is due to the presence in the sys- tenn of a protozoan like that known co be involved in cases of sleeping sick ness. Thus, though the disease may not be infectious, whole communities may be affected.
 ~The disease is not known to always prove fatal, as a cure may be effected if the progress of the disorder is con- battej from the start The final cause of death in cases of pellagra is brought about by malnutrition, the patient being unable to retain food and consequently dying of a. starved and emaciated condi- ton. Transmission of blood is believed to be one method of effecting a cure, but the disease being hitherto unknown in this country. the most successful treat ment has not yet been decided upon"