PELLAGRA 365 



These figures were corroborated by Devoto (1357). Wilson (1358) 

 saw the development of pellagra on a diet containing 92 grams 

 protein and 2200 calories. The protein consisted of f wheat and 

 corn; 10 per cent of the war prisoners developed pellagra in one 

 year, the disease appearing only after hard labor. Boyd and Lelean 

 (1359) observed pellagra among 6000 Turkish prisoners, to the extent 

 of 18 per cent, while among German prisoners, there were no cases; 

 it was only when they were assigned hard labor to perform that 65 

 cases appeared, according to Lelean (1360). Bouchard (I.e. 1278) 

 noted that shepherds developed pellagra, while cow attendants 

 remained free from the- disease. The difference was supposed to lie 

 in the milk consumed. 



The mode of occurrence of pellagra was studied very accurately by 

 Goldberger and his co-workers. Goldberger, Wheeler and Syden- 

 stricker (1361) compared the diets of diseased and healthy natives in 

 a small industrial city in South Carolina. The chief difference was 

 in the milk, meat, vegetable and fruit consumption. The amount 

 of protein was about 85 grams, of which one-third was of animal 

 origin. The reason why other investigators did not observe the above 

 differences is because the pre-pellagrous diet, and not that which is 

 consumed at the time of the attack, must be studied ; for in this case, 

 the disease is already improving. Sydenstricker (1362) could show 

 by statistical data, that the cases become more numerous, when the 

 people, because of increased prices, must limit their expenditures. 

 Apparently, the decrease in the number of pellagra cases in the United 

 States during the war is due to the great prosperity of the population. 

 Goldberger and Wheeler (I.e. 109) produced experimental pellagra in 

 11 prisoners. The diet, accurately controlled, was analyzed by 

 Sullivan and Jones (1363), and the vitamine content was tested on 

 animals by Sullivan (1364). The diet consisted of 41 to 54 grams 

 protein, of which 80 to 97 per cent was of vegetable origin, and it 

 seemed to be poor in vitamines B and A. The controls received a 

 better diet. The experiment lasted 6| months, during which time, 

 out of 11 experimental subjects, 5 developed symptoms, which 

 must be regarded as somewhat abnormal pellagra symptoms. The 

 first symptoms appeared on the scrotum, which occurs sometimes, 

 as we pointed out previously. It is apparent, according to Gold- 

 berger, that the 11 subjects had pellagra in a mild form, and that 

 the symptoms may vary with the diet. Goldberger (1365) held 

 that three months sufficed to develop symptoms of pellagra on a 

 suitably chosen diet. 



