Uncovering the Cause of Pellagra
Dr. Joseph Goldberger, a prominent infectious disease specialist, undertook extensive research on the cause of the widespread pellagra epidemic on behalf of the U.S. government. Contrary to the prevailing belief that pellagra was contagious, Dr. Goldberger held a different perspective. In an effort to demonstrate that pellagra was not an infectious disease, he went to great lengths, even resorting to injecting himself and his assistant with blood from individuals suffering from the condition.
Dr. Goldberger’s Experimentation and Findings
Dr. Goldberger, in his quest to prove his theory, conducted a series of experiments on individuals whom he could closely observe over an extended period of time. To do so, he chose to carry out his tests at the Mississippi State Prison Farm, offering early release to prisoners who agreed to participate. In this particular experiment, Dr. Goldberger provided a diet primarily composed of corn to twelve men. After six months, half of the men exhibited symptoms related to pellagra, a disease caused by niacin deficiency. However, these symptoms vanished as soon as meat was reintroduced into their diets.
In addition to the prison farm experiments, Dr. Goldberger also conducted similar tests in orphanages and asylums, selecting subjects who were already diagnosed with pellagra. In these cases, he provided well-balanced meals while eliminating corn from their diets. Despite the increasing prevalence of pellagra in the general population during that time, the symptoms of the test subjects improved significantly. Out of the 172 children and 72 asylum inmates involved in the study, only one experienced a recurrence of pellagra symptoms.