Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-02
ssMIRACLE MAN" COMBATS
PELLACRA WITH YEAST
DR.. Joseph Coldberger Fights Disease of
South With Simply Remedy and Diet
of Eggs, Milk and Tomatoes.

tradition in the cotton belt have caused
thousands of people to fall into Ger
tain habits of living which are very
difficult to change and which have re-
suited in pellagra and other conditions
Of undernourishment. Proper educa-
tional methods and improvement in eco
nonic conditions will do much to
remedy the situation"
Crops Seen as Factor.
DR. de Kleine pointed out that his
'orv Of the disease in the South mas
shown that when cotton crops are good
and prices high pallagra decreases.
Wnen crops are poor for period OF
wears and prosperity suffer, pellasra
begins to increase alarmingly. This
is taken to indicate that an abundance
Of food for every one Is necessary for
the prevention of the disease.
Pellagra was decidedly on the In
crease in the Southern States during
1927. not only in the flood area. but
in other States of the South. Economic
conditions in the delta section Of the
Mississippi Valley have been such dur
ing the past few years that residents
Of that region have suffered more than
those in other districts. 1t is possible
the food had some influence in in
creasing the disease early last year by
robbing many people of cows and veg
stable gardens. It is considered more
than likely. however, that there would
have been an increase IL the food had
not occurred.
The food brought with 1t an adrni-
rable opportunity TO test the efficacy of
DR.. Goldbergers treatment on large
scale. The Red Cross and the Rookie
Teller Foundation had joined with the
Public Health Service in conducting an
extensive health crusade throughout the
stricken valley, and here was chance
| to preach and put into practice the
| new doctrine of "vitamins versus pei
| lagra." Thousands of pounds Of yeast
we're sent into the area and given
| widespread distribution. The yeast was
doled out by the Red Cross free Of
| charge, with instructions to use 1t in
mush, cereal or straight" Since the
| yeast was extremely unpalatable by
itself it generally was mixed with other
/ foods.
| AS result of this concerted drive
on pellagra by Federal, State and 9TH
err interested agencies, the spread Of
pellagra after the food was effectually
combated and health conditions in the
| flood area were more encouraging than
! at any time in the past.
Treatment Being Followed.
DR. Goldberger's prescription of dairy
| and farm products TO prevent psllagra
| now is being widely adhered to in the
| South. The cotton country families
| are learning that their good health and
often life itself depend on a proper
| mixing of eggs and milk and vegetables
with their age-old rations of cornmsal,
| bacon and molasses.
| Dr. Goldberger is known mainly for
| his researches in preventive medicine
and infectious diseases. He has made
exhaustive studies of straw itch, yellow
fever. dengue fever. measles, typhus
fever. cholera media. diphtheria carriers
and, more notably. pellagra
| A native of Austria Hungary, where
| he was born July 16. 1874 he came to
/ America as an immigrant boy and was
/ educated at the College of the City of
New York and Bellevue Hospital Medical
| College. He was resident physician at
| Bellevue Hospital from 1895 to 1897.
| but left to enter private practice in
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. from 1897 to 1899. He
was appointed an assistant surgeon in
| the United States Public Health Service
| in 1899 and was promoted to surgeon
| in 1912.
He is a fellow of the American Medi-
| cal Association and a member Of the
American Public Health Association, the
/ Association of American Pathologists
and Psychologists, the American Asso-
| citation for the Advancement of Science
the Washington Academy of Sciences
and the MaSons. He resides at 1855
Kanawha street.