Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-08-11
PELLAGRA PERIL DISCUSSED.
Fourteen Persons Afflicted with the
Disease Attended Meeting.

Abbeville, Aug. 6.--The monthly
meeting Of the Abbeville County
Medical Society was held to-day, and
as advertised, the meeting was de-
voted to discussion of pellagra. A
general invitation had been extended
to physicians over the State and seve-
raj men of note had been invited.
The meeting was called to order at
1880 O'Clock by Dr. G. A. Neuffer.
Technical Papers Read.
Dr.. r. B. Epling made a report of
nine cases which he had treated in
his practice He described the symp-
toms and the treatment in each case.
Dr.. c. +. Williams, of Columbia,
read paper on the prevalence of the
disease in the United States, showing
that the disease was not confined to
any one section. He estimated from
the reports which had come in to
him from inquiry sent out that there
were five thousand cases in the Uni
ted States.
DR.. G. A. Neuffer read a paper on
tie 'Etiology of Pellagra," prepared
by DR.. c. II. Lavinder, leading au-
thority on the subject DR.. LAWN
der had expected to be here, but on
account of sickness could not be pres
ent. His paper was well prepared
and showed much research and
thought on the subject. The papers
will appear in the medical journals,
where they can be found by the men,
bers of the profession.
DR.. j. w. Babcock, of Columbia
made all address to the convention
on the prognosis and treatment of
the disease. His remarks were also
In writing, and will be published.
Like DR.. Lavinder, he showed that
he had given the subject much
thought and that it was giving him
much concern. His remarks were
eagerly listened to by the members
of the profession and others present
Strawberries IL Specific &?
After his address, there was a gen.
eral discussion. DR.. HI. E. Mcconnell,
OF Chester, who first recognized the
disease in the United States, made a
very interesting talk, and was closely
followed. Remarks were also made
by DR.. Taylor on asylum cases which
he had treated, and by other men,
bers OF the profession.
Dr.. G. P. Neel, of Greenwood, re-
ported seyearl cases, which he has
treated, and mentioned the fact that
fpatients Of his had claimed that the
eating Of berries had greatly bene-
fted the disease, especially straw
berries This brought out the fact
that the disease is closely allied to
Topical disease, for which straw
berries are a specific.
FOurteen Patients Present.
The most interesting part of the
meeting was the presence Of four
teen patients afflicted with the dis
ease. These are being treated by
Drs. Neu6er, Gambrell and Hill, Of
Abbeville,N and Carlton, of Donalds.
These Were closely examined and
questioned by the physicians. 1t
may be said in brief that the discus
sion brought out the following facts:
That about 65 per cent of the cases
! are fatal: that about rs per cent of
the patients are women, and that the
disease is more fatal among women
than among men; that little is
krJwn Of the caase of the disease,
and less of the proper treatment;
| that 1t Is matter Of great concern
among the physicians, and that the
concensus Of opinion among them Is
that even If 1t be not the cause, the
eating Of corn products Is closely
associated with the cause. The symp-
toms Of the disease are a plentiful
flow of saliva, chronic, diarrhoea and
roughness Of the skin about the
neck and on the hands, feet and fore
arm.
Miss Carter, of McClure's Maga-
zine, attended the meeting.
The physicians from Oconee at
tending the convention were: DR.. ].
w. Wickliffe, West Union; DR.. f.. A.
Hines, DR.. e. c. Doyle and Dr. w. r.
Doyle, of Seneca