Evening star., 1909-08-29
SPREAD OF PELLACRA
Fifty Cases Found in the IIIi-
nois State Hospital.
REPORT OF CAPT. slLER
Disease Unknown in This Country
Until a Few Years Ago.
AsCRIBED TO FERMENTED CORN
Generally Found Among the Poorer
Classes of the Rural Population.
Being Studied by Physicians.


ported to the War Department by Capt.
Joseph F. Siler of the Army Medical
Corps. who was sent there at the re-
quest of the hospital officials to investi-
gate an outbreak of the disease. He re-
ported. also about fifty cases on the road
to recovery and about an equal number
under suspicion, and expressed the opin-
ion that the malady has long prevailed
not only arounr Peoria. but throughout
Illinois and the great corn-growing
states Of the west The surgeon general
of the army is making arrangements for
a continuation Of the investigations
startde by Capt. Siler.
The discovery in different parts, of the
country of many cases of this usually
fatal disease. which until few years
ago was thought not to exist in America,
is attracting the attention of health Of
ficers and physicians generally through
out this country.
The officers Of the public health and
marine hospital service of the Treasury
Department, officials of the Department
Of Agriculture, the surgeon general of
the army and numerous hospitals and
private institutions are conducting In
vestigations into the causes, symptoms
and treatment of the disease. Until a
few years ago pellagra was unknown in
the United States, but many cases that
southern states have led to the belief
that the disease may really be quite
prevalent in America. although generally
unrecognized. AS 1t Is a very serious dis
ease, and epidemic in character. physi-
clans all over the country are beginning
to study 1t.
The disease derives it's name from
two Italian words. meaning rough skin,
as an affiiction of the skin, especially
on the hands and feet, is one of the
Dot {af{n ynfn o< q vroo1QdV
Cause Of PeIagra.
The cause OF pellagra has for long
time been thought to be the consump-
ton of partially fermented maize or
corn, although many physicians believe
that this cause has not yet been fully
demonstrated. The disease generally
occurs among the poorer classes Of the
rural population. who, especially In Eu-
rope. subsfst largely or exclusively on
corn. Observers claim that In the pei
lagrous countries of Europe the corn
is often of a poor quality, gathered be-
fore maturity and not properly stored
or cured, so that parasites easily de-
velop upon it.
At present pellagra is most prevalent
in northern or central Italy and in Rou-
mania. In certain parts Of these coun-
tries it is veritable scourge. and
seems to have followed close upon the
introduction of maize culture from
America. during the early part Of the
It is estimated that there are more
than 10000 pellagrins in Roumahia.
and in certain parts OF Italy as much
as 80 to so per cent OF the population
have the disease. -. =.
Some observers regard the disease as
Of an infectious nature. 1t is generally
fatal Many cases are cured, however
but relapses are likely to occur. The
symptoms Of the disease usually appear
in the springtime. Climatic conditions
except the indirect influence in growing
and maturing maize. 1t attacks men
and women alike, but does not occur
in infants unless they are fed on spoil
but the children Of pellagrins are gen
orally feeble and Of low physical vital
ity 1t is not contagious in the slight
est degree, and those who suffer with
the malady may associate intimately
with we'll persons without transmitting
the disease.
Character Of the Disease.
Pellagra is both an endemic and cpl
demic disease, and is characterized by
disorders of the skin, digestive disturb
ances and nervous affiictions. which gen.
orally result in insanity. In Europe the
malady is essentially chronic, although
many acute cases occur. person may
have suffered with pellagra for many
years, while with others the disease de-
velops rapidly and terminates in death
within few weeks. The acute form
seems the more frequent in America.
Mild mental weakness develops In the
early stages Of the malady, and gradual
ly develops into melancholia with
anxiety. delusio9s OF persecution and
Refusal of food and suicidal tendencies
are common. Suicide by drowning is
frequent among the pellagrous insane.
Maniacal attacks with homicidal tend
encies are infreauent. After the ad-
vanced stage of the disease is reached
death usually occurs in week or more.
The duration of the disease is very ir-
regular. In many cases the manifesto
| tions are periodic and usually occur in
the spring. A pellagrin may be III one
In the early stages OF the disease re-
covery is said to be easily brought about
by removing the cause and putting the
patient on better food and under better
has advanced somewhat the mind Is
likely to remain permanently enfeebled.
and after the disease has fully developed
death is the rule. $780,
First American Case in 1902.
Although corn has been a staple article
of diet in this country. for centuries, the
American continsnt seems to have been
singularly free from the disease. There
have been a few sporadic cases in Mex
leo. and Central America, but with the ex-
ception of a. single case of sailor
aboard a ship in New York the first case
of the disease reported in America was
discovered in Georgia IN 1902. Two years
ago there was an epidemic of the disease
In the Mount Vernon Insane Hospital for
colored persons in Alabama. Several
cases were next discovered in South Caro-
lima.
For the last year and half the South
Carolina state board of health has been
investigating the pelfagra problem. with
the active cooperation OF Surgeon General
Wynan Of the public health and marine
hospital service. Records collected by the
board indicate that there are about LOCO
cases of pellagra scattered throughout
thirteen states in this country. More than
half OF these have been reported from
asylums or similar institutions. There
are about seventy-ive cases in North
Carolina and more than hundred in
Georgia. One case of the disease has been
reported In Baltimore and two supposed
cases in Virginia. Until the present dis
covery by Capt. Siler Of a number Of
cases around Peoria. nearly all the cases
Of pellagra were confined to. the southern
states. So =. !,
WON'T VISIT DENMARK.