Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-10-10
Pelldgrd Us. Indian Corn

in the Charlotte ODserNSij
is painful diarrhoea increases, and
the patient emanciates ra pidly. There
are severe headaches an ! backsches.
tenderness over the dorsal yertebrae,
and insomnia. Paralysis o. the third
nerve is common, as are changes in
the fundus oculi The retyexes are at
first increased and later diminished
or disappear In the late, stages OF
the disease, all of the Gel ebro-splnai
symptoms are increased. During the
course of the disease men tai disturb
ances are common; mels ncholia, in
sanity, or imbecility. Occasionally
epileptiform CONCLUSIONS. paralysis OF
various muscles, and other manifesto
lions or degeneragtiye nervous pro-
cesses. In mild cases the disease may
last from ten to fifteen years. The
average duration is abont five years
"Etiology and Pathology the two
essential factors in the production OF
, the disease are the habitual use OF
diseased Indian corn and exposure TO
sunlight The causative fac tors in the
, production Of the disease are toxins
which are developed tprobably) by
mold fungi in the decomposition OF,
damn Indian corn. The condition is
thus analogous to ergotism. The roll
which sunlight plays in producing II
is (probablyD that of an exciting cause
As the result of altered trophic con-
ditions the skin is changed, but II re-
ouires the irritation of the rays or
light to produce an actual PATHOLOGY
cal condition. The disease occurs en-
demically, and only among poverty
stricken peasants who in their labor
in the fields are exposed to the sun
and whose diet consists largely of
polenta a sort of porridge made OF
poor ccrnmeal.
u.ombroso mas experimeatally pro-
duced pellagrous symptoms by the ad-
ministration of these toxins. A pseudo
pallagra, as Roussel calls it, is seen in
alcoholism with periphreal neuritis
and among the demented, in general
paralytics in asylurns. In the latter
this is probably after manifestation
of Raynolds disease which is not usr
common in insane people
"Pellagra occurs in children but
most frequently between 30 and 90
II is almost confined to the lower
class of peasants and is rarely seen
in towns. It's geographical distribu-
ton is limited by the social and diet
airy factors which produce it. 1t was
first observed in Spain in 1875. III
occurs now in central and northern
italy especially, in neighoornoringI
parts of Roumania and Corfu, in Egypt
and in India (Sandwichs), and per-
hans to a certain extent elsewhere
Northern italy is its best known terri
tory. II is unknown in America. al
though cases have been described by
SherweI in Italians in New YORK.
The foregoing is comprehensive
recital of tratise by renowned
dermatalogist and in its essentials.
has the concurrence Of the American
Dermatological Association and 9TH
ers OF note.
We will wish to direct your atten-
ton to Lombardian leprosy tpeila-
graz as it existed in the Philippine
islands and as we observed it during
the Spanish American war and in the
years 1900 and 1901 While in charge
of a hospital at Calambo, in the dis
trict of Iaguna-de-B Bay and in the
southern part OF Luzon. for the care
Of the sick and wounded natives. II
was my privilege to study the con-
ditions as they existed, and in field
where pcIlagra undoubtedly origin
ates.
Among the native soldiers who had
been poorly clothed and almost starv-
/, ed during their long struggle with
Spain, and who had suffered all the
hardships Of war in the most favor
able climate for the propagation OF
, this disease, we found it existing TO al
great extent and learned some very
interesting and important facts con-
corning It which We could never have
learned from any other source and we
are offering the result and conclusions
to the public for whatever good they