The Washington times., 1909-11-23
SCIENTISTS CONFER
ON PELLAGRA CURE
Is Most Important Economic
Problem, Says DR..
White.

The solution Of the cause of the dis
case pellagra, an epidemic or which has
lately occurred in the SoutE, IN States
is an important economic problem in
the opinion of superintendent William
A White, OF the Government Hospital
for the Insane, involving as 1t does the
safety Of human life and perhaps re
moteiy related TO the preserv lien Of
health among the cattle Of the country.
Or. White has just returned from
conference at Columbia, S. c., of ply
sicians and scientists from all over tho
country. There were 4oG doctors at the
session called by Dr. Babcock. superin-
tendent Of the South Carolina State
Hospital. at the instigation of the State
board OF health.
The finding of pellagra in South Car
china, Alabama, and to a small extent
in Peoria, H., has necessitated i'm
mediate action in learning che cause of
a disease which has existed for 20
years, but about which practically moth
ing is known An English scientist said
that he was glad the disease nad broken
cuts IN the United States in order that
something definite would be learned
about IL
Symptoms Of Disease.
DIT. White this morning told some Of
the symptoms Of the disease. Isolated
cases have been known in this country
as long as fifty years. but the symp-
toms were not generally Identified as
peIlagra- The disease is probably most
prevalent in italy, but there are eases
in Egypt and other Eastern countries.
In mild cases the first affection is an
eruption Of the skin confined to the ex-
posed parts, usually the backs of the
hands, back Of the ears, and on the
feet, when, as in the South, many peo-
pie go barefoot. This is accompanied
by a peculiar redness Of the tongue, an
excessive secretion OF saliva, and q
derangement Of the intestines.
The erupuons begin in the spring and
entirely disappear in the winter, the
patient being apparently cured, bat
there Is recurrence the following
spring until, after a time, TIE case be
comes violent. Al this stage sthe skin
peels of and the sores give OF OBJ
noXIous eScreuons, and from this re-
sennblance doubtless the disease gets its
hardy leprosy."
The eruptiOns on the hands have the
appearance OF scalds, and in several
cases the hospital attendants have been
accused by friends of the patient with
having scalded him.
Absolutely nothing is known of the
cause Of the disease" said Dr. White,
but suspicion has been directed for
the past two centuries against corn
gram and while there is nothing to
substantiate this suspicion, the opinion
OF years canncta be brushed lightly aside
and every phase of the possibility Of
infection from spoiled corn viii be in
Vesugated- Corn IS one of the greatest
or American products and il is essen
tial that II a spoiled product causes this
disease, science should know it.
There IS a suspicion that blind stag
gers IN cattle is In some way remotely
related 70 peliagra-
Lasts Many Years
'Pellagra is essentially a slow chonic
disease, death from which does not
come until after a number Of years
but there are cases on record where
death has occurred IN a short time
The disease is q sort of t8xemia or
poisoning, but this, as all else concerned
WITH II. is only surmise- There are no
cases Of 1t in the Government hospi-
tails"
The object Of the conference Just
closed was the formulation of plans fol
a systematic study Of the disease, its
causes and its possible cure. Surgeon
General Wyman has appointed a com
mission OF which DR.. John f Ander
son, director of the hyRieuic la laboratory
is chairman, and Of which Dr. White
IS one of nine members, and this com
mission viii gather Information - from
al over the world and carry on an in
vestgatiOn on its own account.
Andrew Carnegie IS said To have Of
Tered a sum equal o. ROckefeller's do
nation for the study of the hookworu
20 Investigate Dellagra5 but of this Of
fer nothing has been heard by DIT
White Independent OF outside help in
vestigations into the causes OF thi