Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-02
OFFICIALS ARE NOT
FEARING PELLAGRA
EPIDEMIC THIS YEAR
Statistics From Counties All
Over the State Show No
Grounds for Report of
Increase

Figures from the Georgia state
bureau Of vital statistics in regard
to the pellagra situation show thai
het recent statements quoted as made
by United States public health serV'
ice officials regarding a "pellagra cpl
demic" in the cotton belt, were en-
tirely unfounded so far as Georgia
Is concerned.
At the beginning of the week re-
ports were published in the northern
and eastern cities stating on the au-
thority of the public health service
that the southern cotton belt was in
the grip of a partial famine and an
epidemic of pellagra." Since Georgia
Is in the midst of the cotton belt, in
vestigations were Immediately made
to ascertain the truth of the state
ments as regards Georgia, and the
reports were then vigorously denied
by the state health department, and
the chambers of commerce of the
larger Georgia cities.
No Increase in Georgia
Pursuant to reports by wire from
the various county health depart
ments, it was proven that there was
no increase in pellagra in Georgia.
Figures from the state bureau OF
vital statistics show that there has
been no increase in deaths from
pellagra this year. The death rate
from pellagra during the first six
months of 1920 was fifteen per 1OO,-
600. For the same period in. 1921
the death rate from this cause
was 1874.
Further figures show that for the
year ending June 80, 1921, fifty-one
counties of Georgia did not report a
single death from pellagra; that for
ty-four counties reported only one
death, and that the general situation
in mortality from pellagra is better
in 1921 than at any time in the past
decade. The cotton belt counties
which, it is claimed, were hardest hit
by the low price of cotton, showed
smaller percentage of pellagra NOR
taltiy than did the northern counties
which have more diversified crops.
Mortality Reports
During this period, Baldwin county,
where the state Sanitarium is locat-
ed, reported forty-seVen deaths, the
largest number of any county in the
state. The reason for this is the
large number of advanced cases Of
pellagra sent to the Milledgeville in
stitution. Fulton county, with At
lanta and it's hospitals showed to-
tai Of thirty-one deaths. MuScogee
county showed eighteen; Rich
mond, county and Chatham coun-
ty twelve, and Bibb county
! fourteen. In all of these counties
cities are located, and there is larg
er population. The figures are low
compared to previous records of pei
1agra deaths, and in no case do they
indicate an epidemic condition in any
section.
Since scientific Investigations into
the causes of pellagra made several
years ago by DR.. Joseph Goldbedger,
of the United States public health
service, it has been generally accept
4 ed that pellagra is a metabolic dis
4 ease caused by an unbalanced diet.
1t follows economic conditions, and
: is most prevalent in warm climates.
Causes of Pe1lagra
In a wake of a shortage in green
Z vegetable foods, pel!ag-a is most
prevalent. Just asa diet of too much
i polished rice is the cause of the
q Oriental disease beri beri, and just
cause scurvy, so does the absence
Of green stuff from diet cause pei
! lagra Throughout Italy, where pei
lagra is said to have originated. the
u prevalence of the disease follows
economic conditions, which develop
the known causes Georgia has had
"A no shortage of green vegetables this
year, so there has been little pei
lagra.
DR.. Goldberger made his investiga-
lions into the causes of pellagra in
a Mississippi prison several years
ago. He fed volunteers a certain
form of diet for a certain time, and
they developed pellagra. He then
corrected this diet and gave them diff
ferent foods, and they were cured.
These experiments were said to have
discredited the theory that pellagra
was an ordinary germ disease, or
that it was caused by unsanitary
conditions.
symptoms of Pel1agra
Il Comparatively few people die from
ii pellagra as compared to those who
IA die from ordinary contagious diseases
such as typhoid and diphtheria. 1t
is a disease of the nervous system,
and has varying symptoms. A skin
eruption and discoloration, dull
apathetic mental condition, and a red
tongue are three evidences. 1t gen
orally breaks out in the spring: The
principal treatment for it is dieting
the patient so that his body will
secure the nourishment necessary to
counteract the disease.
The disease attacks white and COL
ored people alike, the death rate
among the races being about equal
It is most prevalent among house
wives and farmers. Among 289 re-
ported deaths last year, 4S per cent
were housewives; q per cent farm
erS, and 16 per cent house servants.
Midd1e-Aged People Susceptible
It attacks mainly people between
the ages of thirty and seventy.
Among 352 Georgia cases resulting
in death, 90 per cent were in people
between the ages OF thirty and forty;
IT per cent between forty and fifty;
and IS per cent between the ages OF
fifty and sixty. In this number only
one white male under thirty died
and he was an infant. Under fifty,
fourteen males died and S1Xty-nlne
white females.
Food prices during the period Of
the war, it is believed had an in
fluence upon pellagra in the south
According to figures compiled from
various state reports, there was a
substantial break in the amount OF
pellagra following the break in food
prices following the armistice. For
Instance in North Carolina in 1918
there were Cos death; in 1919. a year
cred, there were 400 deaths. In
North Carolina the number dropped
from TAI in 1918 TO 40f in 1919: in
Virginia, from 327 to III: in Ten
neSSee from 90 10 700. 1HeSe llS-
ures further indicate that pellagra
Is a disease bearing upon economic
conditions.
Conditions in Georgia
If conditions throughout Georgia
i'm ANY way indicate conditions in
q other states of the cotton belt, the
entire statement that there is a con-
dition of famine and an epidemic OF
pellagra in this section, has been
proven erroneous.
In Georgia more food crops have
been raised than ever before. Vege-
tables are inexpensive and plenti-
ful for everyone. Since there has
i.acraa in L