Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-08-03
PELlAGRA.

Pellagra, the disease Wnlcn lS now
being closely studied by physicians In
all parts of the country is not new
disease, as many people suppose, hav-
ing been traced back to the early part
of the nineteenth century In Europe
an countries In this country 1t Is be-
lievsd that a few cases existed as long
as forty-five years ago, but 1t is only
within very recent years that pella-
gra has become more or less common
in the southern states, and while 1t Is
mot to be understood that 1t Is confin-
ed 70 the south, cases having develop
| ed at different times throughout the
northwest, 1t Is a fact that there are
at present more cases in the south
than elsewhere.
There have been a few cases Of pei
lagra in York county during the past
few years, and doubtless there are
some few cases now, but there Is
nothing approaching an epidemic OF
the disease.
A writer in the Columbia State on
the subject Of pellagra, in part has
this to say in regard to the disease:
At this time South Carolina Is the
storm centre" of this dread disease.
There are probably more cases In this
state today than have been observed
and reported in all other states COM
bined There are estimated to be
more than 1000 cases in South Car
olina. There have been, and are,
more than 200 cases at the South Car
olina State Hospital for the insane,
and new cases are coming into 1t al
most daily. The subject Of pellagra
| Is being discussed with great earnest
ness at the meetings Of physicians at
various points In the state and the
state board Of health of South Caro-
lima is now engaged In arranging for
the city Of Columbia during the first
week in November of this year. AS
to the etiology Of the disease compar-
atively little is definitely known
There are a number Of theories relat-
ing to its cause, each having an ap-
parent basis of facts upon which its
theory Is built, but the prevailing
consensus Is that pellagra has its ort-
gin in. the consumption of mouldY
maize, commonly known nowadays as
corn. The disease generally occurs
among the poorer classes Of the ru-
raj population who subsist largely or
exclusively on maize, most usually
prepared by boiling cornmeal in salt
water-called "polenta" in Italy.
Observation has shown that In
countries where pellagra exists the
corn is often of a poor quality, gath
cred before maturity and not proper
ly cured and stored, so that parasites
develop upon 1t.
While either sex Is subject to the
disease an; it is no respecter OF color,
lit is a noticeable phenomenon in the
South Atlantic states that 75 per cent
of cases are among the negroes and
that the great majority Of those az
fected are negro women.
What Is pellagra? The disease Is
only known by its symptoms. The
initial symptoms as a rule are sore
mouth and indigestion, and the dis
ease first manifests itself in the ear
|ly spring. The gums and the tongue
bleed, and there appear on the back
of the hands and wrists and on the
knees, ankles and feet discolorations
which first have the appearance OF
sunburn; then freckles develop which
later on develop into Inflammation OF
the skin, like a rash and persistent
diarrhoea sets in. The skin becomes
hard and rough. Finally the skin
vesiculates and great patches or pus
and of scales cover the parts. AS the
disease progresses the same symp-
toms appear on the face and fore
head, on the sides Of the neck and
even on the breast and chest. THESE
phenomena are accompanied by ex-
treme emaciation and by pronounced
mental disturbances that develop into
insanity.