The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-08-11
pELAeRA CONFERENCE
A BBEVILLE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
DISCUSSES The DREAD DISEASE
AT ITS REGULAR MEETING.
Many Visiting Doctors Take Part in the
Deliberations PeIagra Cases for In
enpcfinn

The AbbeviIle County Medical Society held
its regular meeting In the Court House on
last Friday. The day was given over 10 the
of Pelagra. Many doctors from
other counties we're present and took part In
the deliberations.
The meeting was pr ssided over by DIR. g.. A.
Neutfer. DR.. Neufer first introduced DR.. Ep.
ting Of Greenwood, who reported six eases Of
PeIagra which had come under bis practice,
and two later cases that had developed since
DIR. c. FL Williams, secretary OF the State
Board Of Health OF Columbia. next read q
paper prepared by DR.. Lavender, DR.. Babcock
and himself. This paper dealt with the his
llams had written to 1G4 superintendents Of
asylums 10 ascertain whether or not Pelagra
existed there. He received 10 replies and the
States reporting Pelagra within their pounds
are: New York, Pennsylvania. Mardland.
Virginia. North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Lou
~islanDa, Tennessee and Kansas.
DR.. H.. E. Mcconnell Of Chester, bears the
distinction Of first diagnosing pela- ra in
South Carolina. He also read a paper giving
bis idea ofthe disease and it's treatment.
The Abbeville doctors had for examination
a number OF patients q ffiicied with the dis
ease. These were examined by the ply 81
clans ann questions asked and answered as TO
the symptoms, etc. This feature Of the meet
Ing was most valuable to those In attendance
for 1t gave those doctors who had not seen a
case ample opportunity 10 see and study 1t as
well.
DR.. Neufer read q very interesting paper
prepared by DR.. Lavender, who was unable
to be present on account OF the Illness OF his
wife. DR.. Bsbcock Of the State Hospital for
the insane. treated a paper on the prognosis
and treatment OF the disease.
On The general discussion DR.. Isaac M. Tay.
lor of Morgantop, N. G., stated that he had
had one patient whose entire body was GOV.
cred with the pellagrous dermatitis. In some
OF the cases be had observed alcohol seemed
said that all The cares coming to his sanita.
rum have been OF the well-to.dO class, and
have not been victims OF malnuiritioD. He
had found no ef1cacious method of t. atmenl
and all but two OF his cases proved fatal.
Dr. o. B. Mayor Of Newberry, said he had
seen but one case previously. He moved
that 1t be Declared the sense OF the conference
that the proceeding OF the meeting be pub
lished In The South Carolina Medical Jour.
nal.
DISBELIEvES MAIZE THEORY.
In discussion of the etiology Of the malady.
he did not believe In the maize theory, and
that until the evidence is conclusive there
should be no positive statements. he thought
the medical fraternity is standing on The
discussion is only the prelude to what is yet
to be done. He thought that a doctor above
all others should be skeptical until facts are
proved. o..
LIZ VI. L . I6dl6 VI 6HlQ ne De-
lieved proper treatment lies along the line OF
hygiene and diatetics. He said that in two
cases under hts care q manifest improvement
resulted from the patients eating berries.
The patients were made to abstain from the
use oicorn bread or any corn products.
NOT A NEW" DISEASE. ,
DR.. Taylor mentioned having seen cases
now known to be pellagra for % years.
DR.. John Lyon OF Ninety-Six, spoke OF hav.
ING OhGarVpd n6ll4QfQ nQfiaDfa annQrapf1u
progressing towards recovery experience an
immediate relapse after eating q small GUAM
tity Of corr bread. Similar cases were cited
by Others:
DR.. Babcock closed the discussion with
comments on what others had said. HI EN-.
phasized the point that diagnosis of pellagra
must be made regardless OF skin legion. AS
to age, the first two pellagrins he saw in Italy
ficted. Both had been fed on polenta-a dish
something similar to "mush." Italian au-
tborities maintain that pellagra Is not COM
municable. He discussed technically the diff.
ference between the symptomatology OF
sprool and pellagra.
Among the physicians at the conference
were:
E. W. Pinson. Cross Bill; J.. M. Carlton, Mt.
Lincolnton, ga; ]. Lee Young. Clinton; J. W.
Davis, Clinton; C.. D. East, Goldville; g.. @.
Miller, Chester; John 81. Miller, Cross Hill; T.
l.. W. Bailey, Clinton; Geo. Peake, Cross Hill;
IL ". WlIlIdiDs, COluIDDlH, j. w. WlQemaD,
Due West; G. G. GHmbrell, Abbeville: Jno. W.
Wicklitfe, West Union; L. O. MoAuly. Eaton
ton, Ga; J; B: Britt, Troy; Il. E. Mcconnell,
Chester; P. K. Black, Nj. Carmel; ]. Z. Ed
wards, S~partanourg; J. D.. Wilson. Lowpdes-
Vile; I; NJ. Taylor, M~organton, N. G.; g. P.
Neal, Green wood; E. ". Carpenter, Green
VILE; j. K. Bel. Due West; j. A. Anderson,
Antrevilie; p; A; Hines, Seneca; A. B; Mayor,
Harrison, Abbeville; &c. Hill, Abbeville; L..
I. HI, Abbeville; j. B. TowI send, Anderson;
W.. 4. Doyle, Seneca; B. w. Cobb, Greenwood;
J. w. Babcock, Columbia: Davis Furman.
G~reenville; John Lyon, Ninety. Six; D. E,
LUX, Wilmington: w. d. Simpson, Abbeville;
r. B. Epiing, GreenwooC; w. 4. Lander,
Greenwood; Johu K Crvil, Columbia; d. P.
Turner. Coronata; w. 0. Holloway. Chappells;
w. L.. Keller, AbbevilIe; g. A. Ne1ffer. Able
VILE; Y. NJ. Hitch. Hodges; K. B. Hendrix,
Greenville; E. c. Doyle, Seneca; W. Townes
Jones. Ware Shoals; A. L..Harvin, Abbeville;
j. 4. Nlckles, Abbeville; d E. Calvert, Able
VILE; w. M. Cheatham, Abbeville.
The court room WAS well filled with specta-
tors and visitors.
The visiting delegates were extended every
courtesy by The m ltlee on reception and
entertainments, and all expressed themselves
as well pleased with the result OF the meet
ing.
During the first week OF November an in
terstate meeting ~ 10 be held In Columbia un.
der the auspices Of the State board OF health,
ut which pellagra. the hook worm and other
matters will be considered and 1t Is expected
this meeting will be attended by many ply
sicians from other States.