Newspapers / The Elkin Tribune (Elkin, … / April 16, 1931, edition 3 / Page 5
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THE ELKI.V TRmaVR. EIAR, NORTH CAROUNA PELLAGRA S^bmething About Its Nature and Prevention (By Stale Boara'W JfmIUi) tn this article an effort la iiisde to present In as simple lanKUage as possiple some of the more Imirart' ant Items about pellattra wbicb are of concern to tbe general poblic. The deaths reported from tbe di sease In North Carolina have been increaslDR In number for tbe last six years, the lowest peak reached in the past twelve years occurring in 1923. In tbe year 192S eight hundred and forty^even deaths oc- rnrred. For the first half of that year three hundred and five deaths were reported. For tbe first half of the year nineteen-thirty, four hundred and stxty-eigbt deaths have already been reported. This is what might be called almost an alarming increase during that year. Deaths arc being reported from all vectloDs of .North Carolina and from among all ages, races, and both sexes. Tlie .figures which we have carefully compiled from the vital statistics records of tbe State Board of Health for a period of many years do not lend themselvee to any casual Interpretation. There are many tbingB about the disease and Ita prevalence which have not yet been satisfactorily explained. In this publication we shall not attempt to consider this phase of the situa tion. There are many thing# which are definitely established, especially with relation to tbe prevention of tbe disease, and It Is this feature which we Shall emphasise at this time. What Is Prttagra? Pellagra le an endemic disease condition which is now generally be lieved to be a deficiency disease. By a deficiency disease or condition is meant ooe that Is dependable on tbe continued absence of essential elements, sucb a*vitamins from tbe' food. Tbe question Is frequently We Have It! A Modem Hospital WHICH OPENS ITS DOORS FOR INSPECTION ON Sunday, April 19 WHEN THE PUBLIC WIIX BE INVITED TO VISIT THE NEW Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital as it stands today—com pleted and ready to fulfull its mission of service. feeing is believing, and |n the completion of the J^ew hospital we have ^ause for thanks, so J^et’s pledge our support ^nd stand behind this Institution. We join in ||ejoieing at the opening. ^\^ether coming from or going to the new hospital, or on any other trip, you will always find that Sinclair Products are dependable. Service stations conven iently located throughout this territory, so drive by and let us fill your tank with Sinclair Gasoline and your motor with Opaline Motor Oil. Your motor deseiwes the best—and Sin clair offers it! H. P. Graham, Agent Sinclair Refining Company ELKIN, N. C. ashed, "Is It communicable?” The{ late Dr. Joseph Ooldbergcr of the'w United States Public Health Service, one of tbe most reliable authorities in the world on the subject, has con cluded that pellagra Is not a com- munlcable disease. The disease has been known since 1736, when it wttH first described by a Spanish physician. It was first recognized hy the medical profession In North Carolina sometime about 1907. It Is prevalent today In two or three ot the European countries and In tbe southern part of the Dnlted States. North Carolina Is a suf ferer along with other Southern States at this time. This disease has not been reportable heretofore In this State, and therefore there is no way to estimate accurately the number of people having tbe disease for every given death. However. l>r. Goldfaerger tn one of his last published papers on tbe subject esti mated that for every death reported there are tnlly twenty people with clearly recognizable symptoms, and probably many more who have mild er or less definite symptoms. The disease, of course, is easy to recog nize In tbe advanced stages, but in' the beginning when the symptoms mild, and perhaps appear and disappear during intervals of a few day.s. the condition is often very hard to diagnose. This is tlic time, i however, when attention to further development is most important, and when most can be done for the pa-' tient. No age seems to be Immune' from attack, but judging from our records here at the State Board of Health office the disease does not seem to prevail to any great extent among children and young adoles cents. For example, a careful tabu lation of the figures for the year 1927 Indicate that of seven hundred and twenty people who died during that year, only forty-seven, or than cue fifieonth. were under twenty years of age. Hymptonis of Pellngrs It is never sound policy for board of health or any perst Iie.-iilli service til publish a ll.si of symptoms of auv disease or con dition. The soundness of this policy Is apparent to any person who will stop for a mlnutu and think about the consequences vhich often ensue. Tile proverbial joke About the medi cal student who Is certain that he has ail the dlese'.es that ho studies during the first year or so of bis college icbrsc is well known. The symptonis. espeeially at different stages of various diseases, are often oiOHC ill their resemblance to each otlier. As previously stated a diag nosis by a competent physician Is sometimes bard to make. If we pub lish a list of cut and dried aymplont^^ to be supplied to the general pub lic. the chances are that many peo-l pie who may have, or think they, buvv. some of the symptoms we. mi might describe would undoubtedly I r become alarmed, and suck a state of mind is always undesirable. As the condition Is so prevalent at pres-| ent. and as It Is so important fori people to understand something of{ its approach, It may be best for to enumerattf jnst a few general con-i ditlons under what Dr. Ooldberger^ WBB pleased to term "Suspicious Symptoms.” There is a charactorlsiie skin eruption, which often occurs on the hands and forearms, upon which the diagnosis if the disease frequently, rests. This, of course, is to be tak en into consideration with many other things concerning the hislory of the patient with special reference to the patient’s eating habits. One prominent specialist has recently ad vanced the theory that light has something to do with tbe occurence of pellagra. Thus some authoriiles have staled that one of the reasons why pellagra Is more prevalent in tbu spring and summer Is on account of exposure to sunlight. The late Dr. Edward J. Wood, a competent authority on the subject, said that the sun does not cause eruption of pellagra, for If It did, a patient in bod could not develop skin lesions of the covered portions, but It does play a pan comparable to Us action on the sensitive photc„rBpher'a plate. Dr. Wood said that be had frequonily had trouble in convincing patients that their trouble was not simply sunburn. Dr. Wood also italed that "In many Instances the skin eruption Is the first and in deed, in even more cases the only sign of sickness." In Dr. Wood’s opinion, when the skin eruption, es pecially on the bands and forearms, recurs in patients who hqd pre viously had such symptoms, and which disappear with proper treat ment. socb eruption serves as s wanting of a rotnrn. and the pa tient could prevent any farther de velopment of the disease through prompt action, when the skin erup tion occurred. Doctor Wood considered the sym metrical character of the eruption as one of the best single dtagnosttc points. That Is, the eruptten oc curs on the two halves of the body exactly tbe same position, shape atJ size. If It appears on one-bait me side of tbe body. It is snre to be followed. In most cases wlth- very f«w days. In exactly the > position on the other bait ot the body. Dr. 'Wood said that there I very few oxceptlons to this rule. Therefore a suspicious erup tion occurring on tbe backs of the bands, forearms, or backs ot the feet, or tlie sides of the front ot (Continued on Pago Eight) J ^ J. P. Ipock -“The Coal Man” Says: Of course we’re glad to add our stamp of approval upon the new hospital and to say that it has been built for a most worthy cause—the relief of the afflicted from wherever they may come. Hearty congratulations to all who have helped from beginning to end. 1 And don’t forget that there is yet ■ some more “suffering^’ weather P ahead of us in all probability, so phone us that order and recuperate the coal bin. A Coal for every need, priced right and delivered promptly. Give your 'phone a ring! J. P. Ipock Telephone No. 144 ELKIN, N. t S r Yes, Congratulations Upon the Completion of the New Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital Much has been said about the new hospital building now completed, and highest praise bestowed upon those responsible for it, but only a visit of inspection will con vince you fully.of the meritorious work that has been accomplished—both by those who have made contributions and by the workmen who have built and finished such a magnificent structure. Our heaify con- gratiilations! This building means new-comers to our city, and we join in extending the right hand of welcome to them, and cordially in vite their visit to our store, where a big stock of department store merchandise is always to be found, in newest styles and at prices that attract the thrifty. We’ll be glad to seiwe you. Feldman’s Department Store Kay Feldman, Manager Elkin, N. C.
The Elkin Tribune (Elkin, N.C.)
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April 16, 1931, edition 3
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