The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-11-04
" Associated Press.

to fight the ''hook-worm" would be
more valuable if given to fight pei
lagra, f. J, Watson, commissioner of
agriculture, commerce and industries
of South Carolina, addressed the Ma
tionaI Conference on Pellagra, which
opened here today.
Three hundred physicians and
scientists, representing more than. a
third of the states and the United
States government. are attending.
Watson said unless preventative meas
ures are taken without delay, the
corn industry Will be seriously threat
eDed. He declared not only the fed
eTal government, but the corn con-
Stunning states must make a vigorous
inspection Of corn and corn products.
In this Watson has the support of
eminent physicians and scientists at
tending the conference.
Z DR.. George A. cellar, superintend-
ent OF the state hospital fer the in
sane at Peoria, Ills, said he believed
the country is threatened with a ma
tional scourge. Cellar predicted that
very soon the disease will be as wide
spread throughout the entire Missis-
sippi valley as in the South.
Research work hss been instituted
at many public institutions in Illinois.
According to reports OF superintend-
entS Of institutions in six other states
similar measures have been taken
there.
PAPER BY DR.. sANBwITH.
The following paper BY DR. r. NJ
Sandwich, of London, Gresham Pro
fessor of physics, was read at the
conference this afternoon:
Il feel that my first words must be
those of congTatulation and encourage
ment to the many physicians IN the
southern states who are now working
at the various problems connected
with pellaSTa. COngratulation in the
first place because they have discov-
cred the existence of the disease, be-
cause they have impressed this discov-
cry upon others so that the presence
of pellagra is now thoroughly recog-
niZed.
IF | venture also to encOurage
American co-workers it is not with
any improper desire to draw attention
to my own work, but because | hap
pen to be in the unique position with
regard to this one diseased of being
able to appreciate their difficulties.
In spite of denials from American
authorities on medicine, l have al
ways suspected that pellagra might
exist. unrecOgnized, in the South, and
at one time l requested my friends to
put me into communication with the
poorest folk Of the maize-eating dis
tricts. was referred to a settlement
In eastern Virginia for pauper ne
groes, but on investigation | found
that the inmates lived in stone houses
on pork rations and l came to the con-
clusion that the word poverty repre-
scented no condition in America which
could compare with the misery of the
impoverished peasants Of Italy, Rou-
mania or Egypt,
EARLY TREATMENT.
THE treatment of early pellagra
cases without mental symptoms can
be successfully accomplished by put
tiEg the patient on liberal diet, ex-
Guiding maize and by Kidding him Of
the IOOk-wOrms which are so often
co-existent, bat the peIagTous symp-
toms return if he is allowed to re-
sumo a diet Of musty maize. Various
preparations of arsenic are used in
advanced cases, but when the brain is
attacked there is small hope for the
patient. unless by SeTOtherapy Pei
lagra is essentially a disease which
cries for preventative measures.
There are certain general axioms
which prove true in Italy and Egypt
and it viii doubtless be found that
they hold good in the United States
also.
Il. In districts where no maize is
cultivated or habitUally eaten, peIla-
era does not exist
80. There are many districts where
maize has been cultivated for many
years and yets pellagra has not ap-
peaTed.
SO. WelI-to-dO people in pelIagra
districts living on varied diet and con
Stunning maize as an occasional and
not as a staple cereal usually escape
pellagTa.
~ II is not good maize or good
maize -four which produces pellagra
the disease requires for its production
habitual use OF damaged maize in
some FORM