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Article title: moisture in corn believed to be a chief cause of disease
date published: september 24 1909
A new theory of the origin of pellagra was reported in this article. Dr. Edward James Wood published in the journal of medical association that the moisture in corn was the greatest source in causing pellagra. He noted that corn wasn't always carefully handled and therefore might not have been protected from moisture. It was also noted that although the corn that many people received came from Ohio and Virginia pellagra was never found amongst those areas. He than inferred that an agent must have developed after the corn was shipped from these areas. It was also noted that chronic cases of pellagra might improve if food was properly sanitized.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F40A16F7345512738DDDAD0A94D1405B898CF1D3