The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-24
PHYSICIAN
VICTIM OF PELLAGRA.
DR.. William =. ellis, of Farmville,
Died Saturday In Johnston
Willis Hospital.
STRICKEN TWO WEEKS AGO
Realizing Hopclessness He Came To
Richmond Two Weeks Ago For
Treatment-Was Well known to
Physicians of State.

Funeral services for DIR. william J.
ellis, thirty-seven years old. promi-
nent physician of Farmville. who died
in the Johnston Willis Hospital at 5
O'Clock Saturday afternoon from
pellagra. will be held in the Methodist
Church in Farmville at o'clock this
afternoon.
His body was shipped to his home
for burial Saturday night at 0 o'clock.
and was accompanied by his wife, and
his sister, Mrs. r. J. Carter, 1910 Han
over Avenue. this city.
The death of DIR. ellis from the
dreaded disease for which there is no
known cure was a particularly sad
one. The young physician had a very
large practice in Farmville, and had
always been In exceptionally good
health until he was stricken with an
actue case of peilagra about three or
four weeks ago.
Although In most Of the cases of the
disease the patients mind goes per-
fectly blank, DIR. ellis remained con-
scious until a day or two before the
end came, and with a full knowledge
of his condition and the necessarily
fatal result starring him In the face
he was able to discuss his case with
other physicians.
DR.. ellis commenced to complain of
feeling a little dull about two weeks
before he came to this city for treat
ment, His attack was an acute one
and several days before he came to
Richmond to seek the advice of
specialists ne realized that he had
peiIagra, and he told his wife that the
end was near.
Although he fully realized his own
condition his wife urged him to seek
the advice of specialists. and on May
10 he was admitted as a patient at the
Johnston-wiilis Hospital. DR.. Beverly
Tucker. DIR. Douglass Nanderhoh. and
several other well known specialists
attended the Farmville physician.
Medical science has so far been un-
able to learn exactly how pellagra Is
contracted, but II is easy to recognize.
Several days before his death Dr. Gilis
mouth and forearms were mass OF
sores. and he recognized himself the
signs of the unmistakeable disease.
There have been very few deaths
from pellagra in Virginia. most OF
them having occurred in certain parts
OF North Carolina and several gov
eminent scientists have expressed the
belief that the disease was brought on
by eating impure corn meal Dr.
ellis death is the first death from
pellagra recorded in Richmond from
this disease for several months Medi-
cal science recognized the first peila-
era cases about eight years ago.
One popularity of the disease, that
of making its appearance in some un-
expected place. striking here and
there, often removing from life some
one who had before enjoyed perfect
health and happiness. was manifested
in the case of DR. ellis. This young
man was stricken in the prime OF life
and at a time when his prospects were
very bright, as ne was regarded as one
of the leading physicians OF his part oil
the state. maintaining a private nos
initial Of his own in Farmville.
DIR. CflIs was well known in Rich
mond and had many friends In this
CITY. He was Mason and Odd Fellow
and belonged to several other secret
orders and societies. He graduated
from Randolph-Macon College, and
then attended the University College
of Medicine in 1901. before its ANAL
gamation with the Medical College OF
Virginia.
He married n Miss Paulette, OF
Farmville She survives him with
one son. william j., Jr., DR.. ellis Is
also survived by four sisters; Mrs X
!. Carter, 1910 HanoverAvenue, this
city: and Mrs. II. ID. Cobb. Mrs. c. B.
Cunningham and Mrs. W. r. Smith
all of Farmville; and one brother j
Wiley ellis, of Lynchburg.