The prevalence of pellagra in the United States : a statistical and geographical note with bibliography / by C.H. Lavinder and C.F. Williams and J.W. Babcock.

  • Lavinder, C. H. (Claude Hervey), 1872-1950.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The prevalence of pellagra in the United States : a statistical and geographical note with bibliography / by C.H. Lavinder and C.F. Williams and J.W. Babcock. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    One of the present writers (C. H. L.) has reported to the Surgeon- General a conservative estimate of 1,500 cases in the Southern States since 1906. The asylum officers in Maryland have not observed cases, but Dr. W. S. Thayer, of the Johns Hopkins Hospital, has recently recog- nized and reported a case of the disease in Baltimore and is satisfied that he observed a similar case several years ago (1905). The disease does not seem to have appeared in the Tennessee Hos- pital for the Insane, but 11 cases of pellagra have been reported as occurring in the Baptist Orphans’ Home at Nashville. Doctor Dewing, of the Long Island State Hospital, Flatbush, Brook- lyn, N. y., reports that he has had no cases of pellagra in his hospital, but “a few cases apparently from other sections of the country” have been observed in that vicinity. One of the present writers observed in New York, in 1908, a case of the disease in a white American seaman in the coastwise service. Although not within the boundaries of the United States, it deserves passing note that Dr. B. K. Ashford has reported the obser- vation of 1 case in Porto Rico, and Dr. J. A. Hayne has observed 2 cases on the Panama Canal Zone. While absolute accuracy is not claimed for these statistics, they may be regarded as a fair indication of the extent and distribution of pellagra as now recognized in this country, and their presentation at this time is made for the purpose of emphasizing the growing impor- tance of the pellagra problem in the United States. The following interrogations are used by one of the present writ- ers (C. F. W.) in gathering statistics of pellagra : 1. Have you seen any case of pellagra in your institution or in your State? 2. How many cases have you seen? 3. How long since you recognized the disease? 4. If at all, how long do you think the disease has existed in your section? 5. What proportion were male? Female? 6. What was the occupation of those affected? Nationality? 7. Do the products of Indian corn (hominy or meal) form a part of the dietary of the patients and are those products derived from native or shipped corn? 8. Were your patients from the poor , moderate , or well-to-do classes? And were they from the city , town , or country? M. D., Superintendent State of BIBLIOGRAPHY. 1864. Tyler & Gray, American Journal Insanity, October. 1902. Harris, H. F., Ankylostomiasis in an individual presenting all typical symptoms of pellagra.—American Med. Assn., IV-3-99. 1902. Sherwell, S., A note relative to a case of pellagra.—Trans. American Dermat. Association, 1902.