The Aberdeen weekly., 1910-07-15
PELLAGRA.


1t is an affection that has only
recently been found in this country;
only one or two cases reported in
the United States prior to 1907 when
it first made its appearance in Ala
bama and North Carolina. Its
spread has been rather rapid since
then, until it has been reported in
nearly every State east Of the siis-
sissippi and south Of the great lakes.
1t is steadily increasing its terrific
rial aggrandizement, and it Is only
a question Of a few months until ev-
cry State in the country will have
it TO contend with
In southern Europe. notably It
ally and Spain, it has held sway for
the last 100 years or more. In 1881
the official census Of italy reported
104, 900 cases, which gives us some
idea OF It's prevalence in that good
country.
1t IS one of the most horri ble dis
eases that we have in any country,
resem bling leprosy in many respects
and has been referred to a. one form
Of leprosy w some Of the students
of its pathology. 1t attacks its VIC
Tins in an insidious way and Is fre-
quently we'll advanced before a GER
tain diagnosis can be made. but we
should be on the lookout for it and
when the first appearance OF evil
begins, shun it as much n posi- ble
| by q correct mode of life, and un-
der the present knowledge of the
cause Of the trouble eschew a corn
diet, especially one that you are not
sure is absolutely sure Is free from
moulded, immature, rotted grains.
Those who have devoted much
time to the study believe it IS III
some way connected with bad corn,
(spoiled maize). To give YOU all
the symptoms would make vol
ume, but the landmarks are, some
stomach trouble and bowel trouble,
as burning in the stomach, too much
saliva, and at times a sore. red, dis
agreeable mouth, and this ascocia-
ted with a diarrhoea. Then you may
have burning sensations on your
hands and face and neck or any part
of the body, not covered by cloth
ing; later Cor occasionally coming
with these sym ptoms) the eruption
appears on the exposed surfaces. 1t
looks like a sunburn or a scald at
first and is usually nIistaken for
something Of the kind by the SUI
ferer. These eruptions may appear
each spring and fall for several years
leach time growing a little worse
and lasting a little longer, until
finally it grows very severe and the
patient is a continuous sufferer from
the skin eruptions.
Many of the chronic cases become
Inmates Of the insane asylums be-
fore death claims them. The aver
age duration of the trouble is five
years. On the other hand, you oc-
casionally see the acute type that Is
a very malignant form at the begin
ming and takes the sufferer off in a
few days.
We now have about 30 cases in
Monroe county that we are sure of,
and many in whom the cardinal
symptoms, the skin lesion, has not
yet shown up. We have already had
reported in Mississippi about 300
cases and over 100 deaths, and it
has only been about two wears since
| the first case reported. Where will
we be six or seven years from now if
the present ratio keeps up?
One of our best health officers ex-
claims in his enthusiasm that there
| is no reason to be alarmed over this
condition, but | cannot be so op-
timistic, for it is hard to get the
good people to raise, cure, preserve,
shell and grind bread, one of the
best articles of food. if properly han
died from the time of planting un-
til cooked, but when pellagra Is
near, one of the most dangerous un-
less it is absolutely well cured and
sound, and ground in clean mill
where there has been no damaged
corn ground.
As the most of US know, the dis
ease known as blind staggers is caus-
ed from faulty food being fed to our
horses, SO my friends, this horrible
disease known as pellagra. or the
corn bread disease. is caused by
faulty, moulded corn being ground
into meal and fed to our people.
Corn in damaged condition, |
am told, cannot be sold in a single
State north of the Mason and Dixon
line on account of the strict State
laws, but it is run through artificial
dryers, and much of it is put into
l>-.lax.l IL IL l.