330 DISEASES OF UNCERTAIN ETIOLOGY 



in the \'ictoi"ia jail in Rhodesia the disease broke out; when hieat, 

 vegetables and rice replaced the mealie the epidemic ceased, and when 

 hand-milled maize was obtained the improvement was " immediate and 

 almost magical " (Nightingale). 



But 

 Pellagra ma}^ occur in people having the best of suitable food. 



(2) The Maize Theory. 

 Pro. (i) The liistory of maize production and consumption. 



Maize is native to America, where it has been found in 

 the graves of the Incas. Columbus or his followers 

 introduced it to Europe, but it did not grow well in the 

 British Isles, which therefore remained free from the 

 disease until the nineteenth century, when maize was 

 imported in larger quantities and used in the preparation 

 of cakes, porridge, pop-corn and whiskey. 

 It grew well in Spain, Ital}' and France, Avhere Pellagra 

 appeared. 



(2) In the Nile delta there is plenty of maize and plenty of 

 pellagra, but higher up the Nile millet is used instead 

 of maize, and pellagra is found less frequently. 



(3) In Colombia it is said to be found only in people who 

 take the drink made from fermented maize called 

 "chicha." 



(4) Maize is found more or less all over the world, so is 

 pellagra. 



Con. (i) There are entire districts in Italy and Brazil where the 

 people have never lived on maize, but where pellagra is 

 prevalent. Other districts where bad maize is used 

 almost exclusively there is no pellagra. 



(2) Relapses occur in jails over long periods, five to fifteen 

 years, where maize is rigidly excluded. 



(3) Pellagra was present in Europe before maize was intro- 

 duced, e.g., the attack of Francis of Assisi, before the 

 time of Columbus. 



(4) Prophylactic and curative measures based on the maize 

 theory have yielded very little result. Progressive 

 symptoms continue after absolute prohibition of the 

 cereal (Alberto Cencelli). 



Various Maize Theories. 



The Photodynamic Theory (Raubitschek). 



Pro. An exclusive maize diet proves deleterious to white mice 

 and guinea-pigs if such are exposed to the sun. 



