The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31


in our neighboring state.
PELLAGRA.
1t is reported from Peoria that
there are more than fifty cases of
pellagra, with fifty additional in a
state of recovery and fifty more un-
der suspicion, in hospital for the
insane near that city. An expert who
was sent by the medical corps sta
toned at New York to investigate
the outbreak is OF the opinion that the
disease has long prevailed, not only
at the Peoria hospital, but throughout
Illinois. as well as through the great
corn-growing states of the west, in
Guiding Iowa. The investigator thinks
conditions at Peoria are deserving of
+ special meteorological study, and it is
/ possible that the surgeon general of
/ the army may arrange for a con-
tinuation of the investigation, the re-
suits of which should be of great
/ value in preventing spread of the
disease.
i Until quite recently pellagra was
& unknown in this country. It has pre-
vailed extensively at various times
in Italy. In the south of France and
IN Spain, and was generally attribut-
ed to the use of maize which was
fermented or diseased. 1t usually
attacks the poorer classes, particu-
larry in the country districts. In the
! early stage the symptoms are indef-
, mite. characterized by debility, pains
IN the spine. sleeplessness, digestive
disturbances and occasionally diar
rhoea- The first clear manifestation
: OF the disease is an eruption on the
5 skin. which almost invariably appears
in the spring. This is followed b,
: drying and taking off of the outel
: layer OF the skin which becomes yer!
rough and dry, and occasionally crust:
form, beneath which there is sup
4 puration. With these cutaneous man
II ifestations there are digestive trou
5 bles-salivation, dyspepsia and pos
l. sibly, dysentery. After lasting a fey
J. months improvement occurs in tn
e milder cases and convalescence !
It gradually established. In the NOR
e severe and chronic forms there ar
pronounced nervous symptoms-heat
ache, backache. spasns and fnall
~ paralysis and mental disturbance
<. The mental manifestations, which ar
rarely met with until the third {
ID fourth attack, are melancholia {
Of suicidal mania.
ID The medical experts now invest
IL eating the disease at first hand ;
lie Peoria and elsewhere in Illinois al
is disposed to repudiate the idea that
O. is due to the eating of corn or col
products. They incline strongly
the belief that it is a germ diseas
ne and this belief is strengthened by Il
es fact that pellagra is being found
is places where corn is being eaten |
at tie or not at all Many English ph
De- sicians are also working on tn
tie theory and are generally agreed tn
au- it is not wholly due to corn. II
es, reason that corn has been blamed t
'5.- the disease is that in Italy. in L
-er corn-eating districts, the disease W
first discovered. and the conclusi
was reached that corn was respoI
on ible. DR.. L. ]. Bullock, a physici
In connected with the state hospital
ain the insane at Dunning. H., who b
ira made special study of the disea
the said in recent newspaper int
de, view:
his "Pellagra is being found whe
va there Is no corn, and consequent
lge the old theory that corn or &C
ave products was to blame is bel
an. thought less of. 1t is, of cour
Ne quite possible that the germs may
transmitted through the eating
corn, but the cereal itself is not b
responsible so much as before
the t-lose studying it closely in this co
asst try"
18th DR.. V. H. Podstata, superintend'
It a at Elgin, is quoted as saying Il
t a pellagra is not a new disease to
t a nois and no one should beco
hat frightened, because it is not cont
ing ious and is not altogether traceable
two the eating of corn. There was
ave outbreak fourteen years ago, but
end doctors did not know what it was
ght those days Medical authorities
hen now pretty generally agreed t
few corn is not to blame and that
ople disease Is a germ disease, altho,
just what the nature of the germ
no one yet seems to have disco'
ed. Quite likely there have b.
by cases of pellagra in Iowa in the p
edi- but if so their true nature has csc
who ed recognition, as in Illinois.
the
rep A HALF CENTURY OF OIL.
ONE On last Saturday there was c