Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-08-26
Strange Malady Comes 70 Atten-
ton of American Physicians
for First Time.
SoUlHERNERS HAVE IT MOST
Disense Tortures Skin, wcakens Mind,
Converts Victim, into q Gibbertng
Dcnth--Explnins Cnscs Of
"Abuse" in Asyfunss.

Washington. Aug. 3.-Thcre q a new
disease. II il pellngra. II comes from
eating corn affected by mould. This
mould Ia declared to be a deadly poison
that kills It's victim by slow degrees and
In great agony. IT tortures his skin. I'M
dermines hi. strength. weakens his mind.
converts him into gibbcrins idiot and
finally brings death
Pcliaera has probably existed In the
United statcs for many years, but Amer
lean physicians know little OF It as yet.
The public health and marine hospital
service hns at last awakened to Its ex-
istence and is making inquiry about II In
the light Of what is known Of the disease
in Europe. A letter was recently ad-
dressed to superintendents Of State hos
pitfalls for the insane throughout the
country. It asked a report as to pelagra
patients
Pennsylvania reported lease: Maryland.
9; Virginia. I; North Carolina. rs: South
Carolina (estimated). 200; Georgia, rs:
Florida. II; Alabama. 1874; Mississippi, 8.
and Louisiana, 5.
HAS 100 CASES.
| The bes, authorities estimate 1900
| cases In the South at present. Since the
| receipt Of these reports information has
been received from Illinois 10 the effect
that n cases have been found in an in
| stitution In that State.
| The disease Is in no way contagious or
| infectious. There Is nothing about l,
| that need alarm any community IN which
II Is found. It may be cured, and It car
assuredly be prevented. The latter fac,
Is the important matter in connection
with It's discovery.
| Pellagra has existed to a great ex'
tent In Italy and Roumania for q hun
dred years II appears soon after thu
| introduction Of corn into those countries
following the discovery Of America Thu
medical men 81 italy have proved
beyond reasonable doubt that 1t Is caused
from tho eating OF mouldy corn. On
hundred thousand people In Italy arr
suffering from the disease and $1,000 IL
| Roumania. Il Is said.
When corn is picked too green ant
put in the barn 1t Is likely to develop
mould. When It Is detective and danny
II will do the same. II often mould
| while being shipped. In closed cars. TIT
mould on It IL poison that. while de-
flying analysis by chemists, Ia none III,
less deadly in its effects. II IL merel,
known that II is a vegetable poison and
that It's effects upon people eating II Il
most disastrous.
| EXPLAINS ASYLUM CHARGES.
The disease IN its early stages 4
detected by an eruption on the back o
tho hands and on the face. those por
lions Of the body exposed >to the sun
The skin blisters and peeis or tn
appearance Is very much like that o
scaided flesh and Is the explanation o
tho constant recurrence Of the charge
made against attendants In insan
asyiums to the erect that they hav
scalded their patients. There Is n
doubt in the light OF the discovery o
the new disease that many OF thes
charges against attendants have bee,
| wrong.
At the nrst appearance Of the dis
ease there Is Inflammation Of this
mouth, difhculty IN swallowing. and
kindred annoyances. The attacks ar,
felt most In the spring and fall. There
Is a gradual undermining OF the con.
stitution and the mind. The patien,
becomes stupid. fretfui. emaciated ant
finally insane. sometimes violently 80
Death may not come for many years
Recovery II possible. complete
change Of food and proper nourish.
ment being the greatest aids.
Tho department Of agriculture ha.
become alarmed because OF the pos
sible effects OF tho news OF the wide.
spread nature OF tho disease upon tn,
market OF corn. Half dozen scien
lists have been set at ork on tho SUD
posedly affected corn with the idea o.
determining whether or not the charx,
against II Is TRUE. When the fact
are In hand. II they point 10 mould,
corn as the cause Of the disease thor,
4, little question that the department
will enforce regulations that will pre-
vent the milling OF any corn that II
moulded.