CHAPTER LXXVII 



THE MICROBE OF PELLAGRA 



PELLAGRA is a disease which, until recently, has 

 been veiled in mystery. The word comes from two 

 other words one a Latin word, pellis, signifying 

 skin; the other a Greek word, agra, which means 

 disturbing. 



Hence, while the cause of the disease was un- 

 known, yet, because by it the skin was so much dis- 

 turbed, it was named pellagra a skin-disturber. 



Thousands upon thousands have suffered with 

 this disease, in their homes or in hospitals, both in 

 Europe and in America, and have everywhere been 

 treated by physicians who knew not what the dis- 

 ease was. Some physicians have treated the 

 malady as a skin disease; others, as a nervous dis- 

 ease; others as scurvy; still others as the so-called 

 Italian leprosy. 



But the medical profession, as a whole, seemed 

 to have on its hands an elephant, and therefore 

 called the disease elephantiasis! 



All the patients have thus been made the victims 

 of guesswork and experiments. The drugs ad- 

 ministered have done only harm. 



When the physician does not know what the dis- 

 ease of his patient is, and yet claims that he does, 



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