Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-08-20

Pellagra. the skin disease that is
attracting so much attention since 80
cases were found at the hospital for
the incurable insane at Bartonville,
ILL.,, is being found elsewhere. Two
cases have been discovered at the Ell
gin hospital.
DR.. Lavinder of the public health
and marine hospital service of WASH
ington, in speaking of pellagra. nas
this to say:
''Pellagra a disease which has
been known and described since 1888
and which has proven veritable
Scourge to certain countries of the
old world. has, during the past two
or three years, been rather extern
sively reported in the United States.
1t is, in consequence. becoming in
creasinely important for the Ameri-
can medical man to become familiar
with it's systematology and diagnosis.
not only that he may be able to rec
ognize it in individual cases, but
that he may be able to report its
prevalence in his community, so that
the distribution in our country of so
serious and important a malady may
be definitely known.
The disease is of an endemic-epi-
demic nature, and where once it oc-
ours it is likely to remain and spread,
involving large areas of territory and
many individuals. Ii is not, how
ever, regarded as a communicable
disease. and quarantine and isolation
of cases are not practiced.
| 1.-The cause of the disease, while
obscure and doubtful in many re-
spects, is attributed by most author
| tiles to the use, as food, of Indian
corn, which has been damaged OIL
spoiled. The corn is thought to have
been harvested in an immature state
perhaps, and stored without due
care as to diving. In consequence
moulds and bacteria develop on the
grain and produce certain toxic sub
stances which are thought to cause
the disease. The nature of the toxic
Substances is involved in doubt. In
other words, pellagra by most stu
dents is regarded as chronic food
poison. In this sense, its analogy
to ergotism and beriberi is evident.
| so far as it's symptomatology is
concerned, pellagra is varied in its
manifestations, but is characterized
by three groups of symptonS-cu.
taneous, gastro-intestinal and ner.
vous Cor mental in some cases). II
may terminate in such serious cOndi'
lions as grave cachexia or insanity
! 1t is periodic in its manifestation!
and usually appears with the begin
ming of spring sometimes falD
ameliorates during summer, and or
| dinarily, in winter many of the
symptoms disappear.
| 1.-The disease usually begins will
gastro-intestinal disturbances ant
general malaise, followed shortly by
the erythema of the skin and in {
brief while there is more or less in
| volvement of the nervous system
1t is slowly advancing toXaemia
| the brunt of which in the end i!
horne by the nervous system ant
| each annual reoccurrence leaves /
deeper and more indelible mark OF
the mental and nervous condition O.
the sufferer.
| THE erythema is the characters
tic sign of the disease, although there
| are mentioned cases without it (pel
| lagra sine pellagra.) 1t appears us
ually in spring, is symmetrical. Sc
lects uncovered parts of the body
especially backs of hands, also face
neck and dorsal surfaces of the feet
There is at first diffuse redness ant
some puffness, with burning an,
itchlng. The erythema may thel
Slowly fade and the skin falls il
smaii hakes. At times it assumes
ouii purple or plum color Bulla