The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-05
DOCTORS STUDY
THE NEW DISEASE
National Pellagla Association
Is Formed
BA3COCK Is THE PRESIDENT
Many Papers of Interest Bearing
Disease Are Read and Discusse.
At the Big Columbia
Meeting.
3A5COCK is THE PRESIDENT

Columbia. S. c., November 4.-The -
tional Association for the Study and fre-
vention of Pellagra was formally organ
lied here tonight at the conclusion of
a two-days' conference on pellagra. at
tended by more than 800 physicians, the
first meeting of national scope held in
this country for the study of this disease
DR.. j. W. Babcock. superintendent of
the South Carolina State Hospital for the
Insane, Columbia, was elected president
of the association; Dr. William A. White
superintendent of the United States Hos
pital for the Insane, Washington. d. c.,
vice president, and DIR. George A. Zeller,
superintendent of the State Hospital for
the Insane, Peoria, ILL.,, secretary treas
urer. Later a vice president for each
state interested in the movement will be
named.
The first annual pellagra congress to
be held under the auspices of the associa-
ton is scheduled for June. 1910, in Peoria.
ILL.,, which city was chosen without a
contest
The association, following the presenta-
tion of forty-odd addresses and papers
by men prominent In the medical pro-
fession. covering wide range of investi-
cation Of pellagra in the United States and
foreign counties, unanimously adopted
the following resolution, presented by DR..
j. Howellwoy of the North Carolina
board of health:
The Resolutions.
Resolved. That this conference recog-
nlzes the widespread existence of pel-
lagra in the United States and urges upon
the national government the necessity of
bringing its powerful resources to bear
upon the vital questions of its cause pre-
vention and control.
Resolved. That while sound corn is in
no way connected with pellagra, evidences
of the relation between the use of spoiled
corn and the prevalence of pellagra seem
so apparent that we advise continued and
systematic study of the subject and, in
the meantime we commend to corn grow
ers the great importance of fully rnatur-
ing corn upon the stalk before cutting
the same.
Resolved, That the work of this con-
ference be brought to the attention of
the various state and territorial boards
of health and they severally be urged to
specially investigate the disease, partic-.
ularly as regards its prevalence, and that
they also see that the proper inspection
of corn products sold in the various
states be had"
In another resolution adopted DR. Bah
cock was recognized ''as the father of
the movement for the study and control
of pellagra in America
Meridian Gases.
One of the most interesting addresses
of the conference WAS delivered tonight
by DR.. Sara A. Castle of Meridian, Miss,
who made the somewhat startling state
ment that of the many cases of pellagra
which she had treated since 1t was first
recognized in Meridian, six Of the patti
ents were socially prominent in the saky,
and five of these died. 1t Is not neces-
sarily a disease confined to the poorer,
according to prevailing popular inn
preston, declared DIR. Castle. All of her
patients were eaters Of cornbread and
grits She stated also that several of her
hookworm patients subsequently devel-
oped pellagra and died.
DR.. J. NJ. Buchanan of the State hos
pital, Meridian, Miss, addressed the con-
ference on the treatment of cases in that
institution. Other addresses delivered at
the closing sessions were:
Results of Stomach Analysis in Pei
lagra,' DIR. w. o. Nisbet, Charlotte, N.
G.; Observations on Pellagra With
Points on Prognosi," by Dr. R. N. Greene
of the State Hospital for the Insane,
Chattahoochee, Fla; Clinical Observa-
tions," by DR.. Rea Parker of the State
hospital Williamsburg, Va. "The Rela-
tion of Pellagra to Insanity and Certain
Nervous Diseases DR.. J. w. Mooley,
State Sanitorium, Milledgeville. Ga:
The Wassermann Reaction in Pellagra,''
by DR.. Howard Fox, Vanderbilt Clinic.
New York city; Complement Fixation in
Pellagra," Dr. c. c. Bass, New Orleans;
Report of Pellagra in Nashville" Illus
trated by Photographic, DR.. j. M. King,
Nashville, Tenn,