Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07
MADE 4 STUDY Of PEllAGRl
DIR. WOODWARD HOME FROM
COLUMBIA CONFERENCE.
Association of Physicians and Scien-
fists Formed to Further 1nvesti-
gate the Strange Malady.

From the study Of pellagra at Column
bia, s. C.. Health Officer William c.
Woodward returned yesterday afternoon
and resumed his duties at the District
building.
DR.. Woodward went to Columbia to at
tend the first conference for the study
of pellagra, which continued for two days
of the week, and he was present at all
tho sessions. But he went primarily to
become familiar with tho disease which
has lust been found prevalent In certain
sections of the country. to he prepared
for a possible outbreak in the District.
He said yesterday. however, that no
cases of the disease have been reported
in Washington. and he does not expect
that the disease will be found here
The disease, he said, is first charac-
tcrized by disorders Of the digestive syS-
tenn and later by skin eruptions: and In
its later stages the disease lHects tne
mind. II was brought out during the
conference he explained, that Ii per cent
of the recent admissions to the insane
asylum at Columbia have been cases Oh
insanity brought about BY pellagra.
Disease Not Contagious.
The disease, he said has been found not
20 be communicable or contagious; but it
Is regarded as serious vnen once II gets
into ones system. Some patients have
been cured. he said, but many OF the VIC
TINS become insane and die. The con-
terence did not find the definite cause or
source OF the disease. II was suggested
that 1t comes from a disease Of decom-
position Of corn. but the conference SIM
ply said that the connection between dls-
eased corn and sufferers from the disease
was sufficient TO demand further inquiry
along that line.
About no medical experts from all parts
OF the country were In attendance upon
the conference. Besides Health Omcer
Woodward there were present from
Washington Dr.. William A. White OF the
Government Hospital for the Insane. DR..
Carl l.. Alsberg of the bureau OF plant
industry of the Department OF Agrlcui-
ture, Assistant Surgeon Kerr OF the puo-
lie health and marine hospital service and
Drs. Lavinder and Reed Hunt OF the
same federal bureau.
National Association Formed.
A national association for the study of
pellagra was formed result or the
conference, and it was arranged to hold
the next convention In Peoria, ILL.,. at the
insane HOSPITAL, in which city many cases
of the disease have been discovered.
There is a very general opinion among
the local physicians Of Charleston. ;. G..
that pellagra has existed tleTe iol pioU
ably twenty years or more. but incorrect
ly diagnosed as eczema. dysentery, mites
final tuberculosis, etc, with dementla
complication or the reverse.
The above statement is made In re-
port, dated October %. to the marine hos
pital service, by Acting Assistant Sur
geon Sans, on duty in the South Caro-
lima city He says pellagra, as such, has
been but recently recognized there. the
first case having come under treatment
In March, 1908. During that year there
were five deaths, and a similar number
thus far this year 4 table is given
showing conditions in nineteen cases from
the recognition of the disease in March,
1905, but DR.. Sans thinks that to be less
than the actual number OF cases.