The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-09-26
MAY INVESTIGATE
PELLAGRA CASTS
(continud from Page one)

mer, and North Carolina physician
has estimated for the public service
that there have been $4,000 cases in
his state alone since the disease was
discovered six years ago.
Few northern states have been
shouldered with any prevalence of
the disease, though Illinois has fur
nished several OF the most interest
ing subjects of study and has
greater number of cases than any
other northern state. New York has
had a few cases and the District Of
Columbia has furnished several,
though most of those discovered in
the District could be traced directly
to some point farther south In all.
the disease has been reported from
81 states, though the problem has
never become serious except in the
south and possibly, in Illinois.
A number OF state authorities have
taken the matter up and instituted
campaigns to reduce the danger OF
the spread OF the disease. California,
although the disease Is not at all
prevalent there, has gone so far as
TO make il quarantineable disease,
requiring reports TO municipal health
officers of every case noted or
treated
The malady is not believed, how
ever, to be either contagious or in
fictitious and for that reason Is prob
ably harder to make headway than
II the infected district could be cut
of and the further spread Of the dis
ease stopped.
As a matter of fact little progress
has been made by the medical pro-
fession in determining upon the
causes of the disease or in perfect
ing cur for il. Do what they may
the doctors are unable to prevent
the high rate Of mortality IN the sec
tons where the disease Is prevalent.
This mortality Is stimated as be-
tween 30 and u per cent of the total
number OF casesr-a much higher
rate than in Italy, where pellagra Isl
supposed to have originated. About
20 per cent of the cases reach the
insanity stage, filing the hospitals
and asylums of the south with a
loathsome form of mental disorder.
Cause OF the Disease.
Dr. Lavinder. in charge of the Sa-
yannah hospital, was sent to Italy
last year by the service to study the
disease there. lie met investigators
there from England. where the
malady Is presenting serious prob
lem. In Italy national law for the
cure and prevention OF pellagra Is in
force. This law is based entirely on
the theory that the disease Is caused-
by eating spoiled corn-a theory
which has been generally accepted
In this country. However, two more
hypothesis. have recently gained
some credence and. IL finally adopted.
will present the case In a still more
serious aspect.
One OF the new theories goes on |
the assumption that the disease is
brought by the sting Of sand-ny
The other assumes the malady TO be |
brought into the human system by
The water-borne trematode. an
Italian b!ood-infecting insect. These
theories have attracted wide atten-
iiop In Italy and are now being care
fully investigated In this country /
The fight is still being made on the
assumption thar spoiled corn Is the
agent in the spread Of the
disease.
The corn theory puts a more seri-
,us face on the problem when il II
explained that by corn Is meant
'hieny It's various products such as
iominy and meal. d form BY which
diseased or spoiled corn can be dis
suised by inscriptions millers and
As these foods are
he principal subsistence for thou
Iands throughout the south, the re-
Iult Is obvious.
Like cholera. pellagra Is stopped
~ cold weather. Frost followed ~
warm weather has no appreCiable
fleet a permanent drop IN tempera-
ure being necessary. Those cases
which are contracted late and ap-
larenily cured By cold weather often
hibernate and return againsthe fol-
owing spring. In some cases the
occurrence continues for years. nlti-
nately ending IN insanity. In other
asses moi more than two weeks may
lapse between the first symptoms
md Death.
The malady r. now being treated
Is nervous affection with blood
manifestations. but the physicians
Idmit that the necessary study and
Investigation may change the dag
inSis aitorathpr