Die Pellagra – vor 250 Jahren im Kaisertum Österreich erstmals beschrieben, wurde sie zu einer lebensbedrohenden Endemie in einigen Provinzen

Pellagra is characterized by “dermatitis – diarrhea – dementia – death”. Various causes were discussed over the course of two centuries. The initial presumption was that the sun caused changes in exposed areas of the body. The “Zeïsts” blamed the maize (corn), which forms the main constituent in the diet of poor peoples, for being an insufficient nutrient and thus causing the pellagra in such indigent populations. The “Toxikozeïsts”, however, regarded toxins produced by innocuous bacteria and fungi in unripe or in ripe but badly stored maize or in maize flour or in poorly baked maize bread as the cause of pellagra. Pellagra as an allergic disease was also discussed. Self-experiments of Goldberger’s group in 1916 and finally Elvehjem’s detection of niacin deficiency in maize in 1937 solved the problem. In the Austrian empire and (from 1867 on) in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, pellagra was diagnosed and combated in the provinces of Küstenland, Tirolia and Bukovina and in Hungary. Originally believing in the noxiousness of maize in the poor population, extensive measures were planned and partially executed. Primarily measures for providing salubrious maize products were planned for the population, such as public bakeries and eating houses, kilns and storage houses for maize. For the treatment of pellagra patients, so-called pellagrosaria and auxiliary hospitals were established and the number of general practitioners was increased. It was also important to educate the population about preventing pellagra by consuming proper food. Pellagra funds to sustain the measures were established. In the provinces, pellagra commissions, chaired by the governor and consisting of twelve experts of the relevant medical branches, were appointed as an advisory and expert body.