Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-03
SEEK PELLAGRA CURE
Experts Gather in Convention
at Columbia, S. C.
OLD WORLD REPRESENTED
Numerous Papers by Authorities on
Disease Submitted.
WELCOME BY GOV. ANSEL
Conference Suggested by Lombroso,
and Planned as Local Meeting,
Becomes International.

| COLUMBIA, S. G.. November AL.
most completely baffied as yet by one
of the most mysterious diseases with
| which ii was ever confronted and which
already has assumed alarming proper
tions in this country especially in the
south, medical science began here to-
day to grapple with the new and grave
problem. This strange disease is pei
Iagra," concerning which medical au-
thorities know but little either of it's
etiology or it's cure.
II is for the purpose of throwing
light. if possible. upon ''pellagra." de-
scribed as the medical mystery of the
day, that experts on the disease from
this and other countries assembled here
today In attendance upon the national
pellagra conference, which will continue
its sessions for probably three days.
Cure to Be Sought.
Every effort will be exerted to ascer-
tain the cause Of the peculiar disease
and seek a method of treatment that
will check the progress Of it's ravages.
Indicative of the profound interest
that is manifested. not only in this but
in foreign countries, in regard to the
disease. Is the fact that what was at
first proposed as "a purely local gather-
ing of physicians for the discussion OF
pellagra developed into one of national
and international character. Taxing the
lead and awake to the danger which
threatens the southern states. the state
board of health of South Carolina Is
responsible for this conference.
Practically every southern and many
northern states, England, France. can
ada. Mexico, the West Indies and other
countries are either represented by pei
lagra experts or by the contripuuon VI
papers on the subject. The federal gov
eminent also is keenly alive to the i'm
portanck of the conference. being rep
resented by officers of the public health
and marine hospital service and the
army.
DR.. C. H. Iavinder, whose investiga-
lions and subsequent reports picturing
the horrors of pellagra have attracted
widespread interest, Is here to represent
the public health and marine hospital
service.
Address by Gov. Ansel.
The conference opened at the State
Hospital for the Insane here today with
an address OF welcome by Gov. Ansel.
Papers on various phases Of the pellagra
problem have been contributed for the
meeting by medical men Of England,
| Egypt, France, Mexico and the west
| Indies.
| Indirectly the conference is due to sug-
| gestions by the late Cesare Lombroso'
the great Italian authority. to whom
turned for advice when they identified
/ as pelIagra a disease that was making
terrible ravages among the states in
sane.
| ference was planned. AS news OF the
meeting spread and interest In pellagra
4 increased the affair became national and
| then international In it's interests.
| Practically all the papers from abroad
were offered without solicitation. From
many foreign sources have come requests
for the published proceedings of the con-
| ference.
Surgeon General wyman of the United
States public health and marine hospital
| service has detailed for attendance not
only Dr. c. H. Lavinder, who has been
engaged upon the study of pellagra,
mostly here and in Illinois. for the past
year, but also Assistant Surgeon Cen
eraI ]. w. Kerr, Dr. Ref Hunt. chief of
| the division of pharmacology. and DR..
John d. Long Of the hygienic laboratory.
| In a letter Surgeon General Wyman
says these. officials are sent to the con-
ference on account of the great impor-
lance of pellagra and in view Of the
| more extended studies which this serv-
ice expects to make of the disease.
More than thirty papers are ready for
\ the conference, other features of which
will include lantern demonstrations.
clinics and the presentation of typical
| and abnormal cases. For the general
public the greatest interest lies In the
| light to be thrown upon the maize theory
| of pellagra's causation.
Papers Sent to Conference.
| Papers in hand for discussion and pub
| LEGATION include the following:
Introductory remarks. F. NJ. Sand
With; NJ D.: F. R. c; p; of London
! with was first to discover pellagra in
| Egypt.
"Pellagra as a National Health Prob
lem Assistant Surgeon General ]. w.
| Kerr. L. S. p. II. and NJ. III. service,
Washington. D. C.
Economic Factors of the Pellagra
Problem in South Carolina" f. ]. Wat
| son, commissioner Of agriculture COM
merce and Industries, Columbia, s. c.
ION the Prophylaxis Of Pellagra,"
Passed Assistant Surgeon c. Fl. Lavinder,
U. S. p. II. and NJ. Fl. service. Washing
| ton, d. c.
| "Asnects Of the Pellagra Situation in
Illinois" ]. F. Siler. NJ. D., and II. J..
| Nichols, NJ. D., captains, Medical Corps,
| L. S. Army.
"Peliagra: Its Recognition in Illinois
and the Means Taken to Control 1t,
state hospital. Peoria. Ill:
| pathology of Pellagra,' Fl. +. Harris,
NJ. D.. secretary state board of health.
Atlanta, Ga.
| ''SOme DlueTcutidi Oihto Nii' N1h''
| Lessons of Pe!lagra; Report OF One Case
with Removal of Symptoms lsadore
Over, NJ D., dean of medical department
| Tulane University. New Orleans, La.
| statistical Reports on Pellagra, sec
| retaries OF state boards OF health
.Pellagra in Yucatan." George +. Gau-
| mer. NJ. D., Izamal, Yucatan.
| "Pellagra in Jamaica" DR.. Williams,
| medical superintendent of the asylum,
! Kingston, Jamaica.
! .PelIagrous Insanity Among the Arabs
in Egypt" DIR A. Marie. Paris.
| "Pellagra Its Relation to Insanity and
| Certain Nervous Diseases. j. NJ: MOD
ley. NJ. D.. state sanatorium, Miiledge-
| vile. Ga.
| "Ameba in Stools in Pellagra." William
| Allen, NJ. D., Charlotte, y. G.
| Personal Observations on Pellagra,
I T. w. l.. Bailey. NJ. d., Clinton. S. G. :,
i Results OF Stomach Analysis In Pei
lagra." w. o. Nisbet. M. d.. Charlotte
| n. c.
The Surgical. genealogical and OBJ
/ stetric Aspects OF Pellagra." Z. B. Saun-
| ders NJ. D., State Hospital, Columbia.
| S. C..
"Pellagra, Its Etiology. Pathology.
| Diagnosis and Treatment" c. w. G..
| Rohrer, NJ. d.. medical assistant, state
| board of health, Baltimore, Md.
Complement Ftxation in Pellagra." C..
/ c. Bass, NJ. D.. New Orleans. La
lagra," c. 8. Pixley. NJ. D.. Winnsboro.
| 8. G.. >,
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