Experimental Pellagra in the Human Subject Brought about by a Restricted Diet

CHAPTER 1. Historical Context of Vitamin B

“…Pellagra is a disease which was epidemic in southern Europe in the 19th century and in the southern USA in the early 20th century. In 1915, Joseph Goldberger reported that pellagra was not an infectious disease and could be ascribed to maize eating (Goldberger and Wheeler 1915). This view was consistent with the findings of Willcock and Hopkins in 1906 that mice fed with maize protein, which is low in tryptophan, as the sole protein source could not grow (Willcock and Hopkins 1906).…”

Report on the Present State of Knowledge Concerning Accessory Food Factors (Vitamines).

“…led to the advancement of the most satisfactory theory yet put forward regarding the etiology of pellagra. The accuracy of his conclusions, drawn from the study just referred to, was demonstrated in a striking manner by his experimental production of the typical disease in man *by feeding upon a restricted diet similar to that consumed in pellagra zones (198).…”

The Pellagra Outbreak in Egypt.

“…Goldberger's artificially produced pellagrins first showed the rash. 10 Lastly, under this heading I wish to describe a condition to which only one reference could be found (Marie"). In eight of the cases there was noted a peculiar seborrhoeic condition, chiefly round the alse nasi, sometimes scattered over the whole face (see Fig.…”

“…Next, various antigens were made from the organs of pellagrous post-mortems-viz., thyroid, suprarenal, liver, spleen, kidney. The antigens were preuared in different ways: (1) thyroid, 10 per cent. in 70 per cent.…”