The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-12-11
DISCUSSES PELLAGRA CAUSE
DR.. w. II. Edmunds of Fan Claire
Thinks Potassium Poison Bcgets
Disease.

/ iolioWlnS causes and cure for pella-
gra:
Time and time again there have
appeared in your paper articles in
regard to the disease pellagra, So
called. Now in one Of your late issues
is one under the caption, "The Cause
and Treatment of Pellagra. Discov-
cred by DR.. Goldberger."
From its first diagnosis by DR.. Bah
cock, superintendent then of the State
| hospital, tho cause was thought to be
Indian maize or corn, bit why? No
one inquired.
Far and near pathologists have
Vainly sought for some germ in order
to institute the proper treatment
One writer attributed it to a GER
tain Fly" others to certain zymotic
changes, during fermentation, etc.
etc. After reading all the various
causes advanced, I think that DR.. NJ.
II. Evans of Joplin, Mo-, is correct
in stating that pellagra is a chemical
disease. His conclusion is based
upon premises which are so sound and
reasonable that it can hardly be re-
futed
BOuchard, an eminent French
chemist, says potassium is so times
more poisonous than sodium. Or.
Evans, knowing that one OF the prin-
clpal elements in corn and starch
foods was potassium, compared the
symptoms Of poisoning by potassium
With those OF pcIlaera and found
them Identical. We find in carbohy-
drafted starchy foods large per cent
age of potash, corn ash containing as
high as 35.92 per cent. Of carbonate
Of potash. All hog meat is treated
with nitrate Of potash, salt petre as a
preservative. Baking powders are
largely composed OF bitartrate Of
potass, cream, tartar. In bacon we
nave about 20 grains of potass to the
pound, therefore in every meal Of
! nam or bacon we get at least 30
grains potass and about the same
quantity, 29 grains, in cornbreaI and
bread which contains baking powder.
not counting sodium, magnesium, etc.
Thus you see that where corn is
eaten and other starchy food we arc
likely to get poisoned.
Here are the symptoms of poisop-
ing in both pellagra and potassium
Stomatitis, sore mouth, gastritis, in,
fammation of the stomach, dlarrhoea.
vomiting diminished, coagulability OF
the blood, disintcgrating of the red
cells Of the blood, dermatitis, inflam-
nation Of the skin, physical exhaus-
tion, mental depression and insanity.
nave seen cases Of poisoning by
concentrated lyc, which is hydrate
potass, drunk by mistake, present al
the above symptoms. Again accord
ing to DR.. Evans, we can readily ac-
count for every symptom of pellagra.
The acid phosphates of the brain IS
acted on by the potassium, changing
them into alkaline phosphates, and
thus dissolved out of the braiA. nerve
tissue and muscles, thus weakening
the individual. Nerves break down,
the brain gives way, the patient be-
comes insane and dies. The derma-
tits is accounted for by the air and
light on the exposed parts changes
the potass into potassium hydrate, and
as this is violent caustic irritates
ard infiames the skin, this being due
to the skin fat being changed into
soap by the lyc or potass hydrate.
That this really takes place is evil
dent by the peculiar soap odor which
is easily detected in the exudates
from the sores.
DR.. Evans also says that the per-
spiration Of a pellagrin turns litmus
paper blue and that the eXcretions o.
sores are also intensely alkaline.
In the insane hospitals pellagra is
Frequently seen, as the diet is princi-
pally hog and hominy." containing,
as previously stated, much potass, be-
side the bromides of potass are large
ly used.
In the hospital for the insane in
Peoria, ILL.,, there were so or 90 pella- =
2rins. A commission spent a month
investigating the cause without find
ing it, though during that period
10000 pounds Of hominy had been
consumed by the inmates, while OF
those who ate other diet none had
pellagra. Thus the cause was over
looked.
DR.. Goldbergor was right rs far as
he went, only he did not go fal
enough.