The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-02-04
PELLAGRA A MENACE.
A S:ourge in the Old World
and May Possibly Become
Endemic in the South-Botn
an Endemic and Epidemic

Endemic in the South-Botn
an Endemic and Epidemic
Disease.
Washington Dispatch. sJan. so.
Looming up as a grave menace
to health conditions in the South
is the recent appearance OF a
deadly disease known to medical
scientists as "pellagra." This
strange malady is a veritable
scourge in the Old World and the
possibility of it's becoming en-
demic in the Southern States is
by no means remote.
For several centuries "pella-
gra" is known to have existed in
the Old World, but it's presence
in the South has but recently
been discovered. 1t probably has
existed for several years in that
section Of the country, but med
ical men have failed to recognize
It's presence.
Now, however, this peculiar
disease has been diagnosed as
true pellagra and the credit for
its discovery in the South be-
longs to Passed Assistant Sur
geon G. H. Lavinder, of the pub
lie health and marine hospital
service. He has made thorough
investigation of the disease and
has but recently made an ex-
haustive report on his observa-
lions to Surgeon General Wy
man.
''Pellagra" is a malady caused
by eating of spoiled maize" and
produces in persons afflicted with
sort of intoxication. The disease
generally occurs among the poor
err classes of the rural population
who subsist largely, or exclusive
y, on corn most usually prepared
by boiling corn meal in salt wa
ter called "polentia" in Italy.
DR.. Lavinder states that in pella-
grous countries the corn is often
of a poor quality, gathered be-
fore maturity and not properly
cured and stored, so that para
sites more easily develop upon it.
ENDEMIC AND EPIDEMIC.
Pellagra is both an endemic
and epidemic disease, which oc.
ours in those who feed on diseas-
ed maize, and is characterized by
an erythema of the skin, diges-
tive disturbances, and nervous
disturbances. 1t may terminate
in such serious conditions as
grave cachexia or insanity; it is
periodic in it's manifestations
and usually appears with the be.
ginning of spring, ameliorate.
during summer, and ordinarily
IN winter the symptoms dissap
pear to such an extent as otter
to give the false idea of recov
cry. So long as the cause per
sists, however, it re-appear.
each year.
THE disease usually begin.
with gastro-intestinal disturb
ances," says Assistant Surgeon
Lavinder, followed shortly by
the erythema of the skin, and il
a brief while there is more O,
less involvement of the nervous
system. 1t is a slowly advancin,
toxemia, the brunt of which, il
the end, is borne by the nervous
system, and each annual recur
renee leaves a deeper and NOR,
lndelible mark on the menta
and nervous condition of tn,
sufferer. The great gravity ant
danger of the disease, it is point
ed out, lies in the number o.
people affected, and in it's i'm
mediate and remote conse
quences not only to individuals
but to the race-intellectua
feebleness, lessened resistance
economic loss, physical deteriora
ton OF the race, etc."
CORN MAY NOT CAUSE 1T.
An interesting theory advanc
eel by DR.. Lavinder is that if tn,
cause of pellagra be accepted a
feeding on spoiled maize, the
the maize crop of the Unite,
Stptes must in recent years hav
undergone decided change il
some respect, for maize has al
ways been very extensively use,
as food in the~Seuthern States
and pellagsctaas not appeared il
~0lE1ne, to b. This is a subjec
which, he declares, will requir
extensive investigation, shoul
the disease continue to-advance
Concerning the etiology of tn
disease, it is said to be an intox
lcation due to using as food In
dian corn (maize), which unde
the influence of unidentifie,
parasitic growths changes witt
the production of one or NOR
toxic substances of a chemica
nature.
In the preface of his report
DR.. Lavinder declares that Their
is reason to believe that perhap
pellagra may be quite prevalen
in the Southern States, but i
unrecognized. Within the pas
two or three years, for som
reason or reasons unknown, thi
disease has rapidly increased i
numbers and extent of territor
affected. Pellagra bears clos
resemblance to the accepted de
scrlption of pellagra as it occur
IN the Old World, though differ
emily in some particulars, an,
the acute cases greatly prepol
derrate and the mortality is high
Since it is of a serious nature
and epidemic in character" de
clareS DR.. Layinder. "knowlodn