The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-08-29
No Reason for Panic on
Appearance of PelLagra

meal. 1t behooves persona to see that
the meal they consume IL pure and
good. -tt - }fGT sc0zoi .
1.-THE symptoms Of the disease are
more or less variable, but they usually
pursue about the following course:
An Inflammation or redness appears
on the backs OF the hands, symetrical
generally on the two hands. extending
up to the wrists. and sonnet times to
the elbows. This. redness presents the
appearance first OF sun-burn. A sim
liar redness may appear on the dorsal
surfaces Of the feet; also. on the face,
and later on other parts Of the body.
The skin Of the parts affected assumes
q geelghened appearance--the word
era meaning rough skin. Sim
Aneously with these appearances on
the skin. sometimes preceding them.
the mouth becomes sore and the tongue
and mucous surface therof look red
and angry. a dow Of saliva resembling
salvation sometimes occurs. Loss OF
appetite and diarrhoea' are also symp-
toms. The skin LESSONS In time grow
worse. the epidermis is lost. giving the
skin raw and angry appearance. La
ter on mental symptoms develop; the
patient becoming languid and dement,
ad. The disease Is usually worse In
the summer and has disappeared largely
lowing summer. sometimes pursuing
this course for several years. Some pa
tients recover; the exact percentage Of
recoveries not as yet being known,
on account OF cur lack of statistics.
Probably Not Contagious.
There IL no proof that the disease
Is contagious: neitheE has It been
proved that II may not be feebly con-
tagious. 1t IL certainly not highly
80
have existed In one member OF fam
lily for years without other members
OF the family becoming affected.
I'm the light OF these facts. when
the disease appears In q locality. ne
occasion exists for excitement or alarm.
wherever q case appear in q family,
IL the situation and surroundings are
such as to admit Of the case being in
a measure isolated. there would be no
harm in pursuing that course, espe.
cially as II has not yet been proved
that the disease may not be slightly
communicable. It would certainly be
a proper precaution for the patients
clothing, bedding. and all articles used
by the patient to be kept separated
from those of the other members OF
the family and Thoroughly disin-
fected.
THE state Board Of Health is max
ing efforts to obtain the clinical histor-
les OF all cases that appear In the State
with the hope that such histories may
throw some light on the causation OF
the disease. Wherever cases occur the
physicians in charge are being urged
to obtain and record full information
as to the situation and surroundings
Of the patient. the habits. the diet, ETC.,
with the hope that some condition may
DO discovered that 10 sufficiently COM
mon and uniform in all cases as to be
accepted as standing in the relation
of cause.
whenever patients show any of
the symptoms OF the disease they
should promptly consult their physi-
clan and put themselves under advice
| and treatment
Letters from localities where, the
disease has appeared are reaching the
nfiice of the state Board Of Health
from time to time. asking that some
member Of the Board. or the State BAG.
tsriologist, visit the locality. While