A compelling account of a real-world medical mystery in the early twentieth century chronicles efforts to determine the cause of pellagra, a debilitating and often deadly disease marked by a red, scaly rash, digestive problems, and mental deterioration, as well as eventual death. Most prevalent in the United States among the poor in the South, it went from relative obscurity to a major public health crisis. Moldy corn and germs were two commonly blamed culprits when Joseph Goldberger was assigned to investigate the cause. Goldberger, a meticulous observer and researcher, eventually theorized pellagra was the result of a dietary deficiency. Again and again he conducted experiments and found evidence supporting his theory — and refuting others — but there was incredible resistance among politicians, doctors, and others in the south, because Goldberger’s theory projected an aura of poverty. Goldberger turned to self-experimentation as he and other researchers set out to prove once and for all that pellagra could not be transmitted from person to person. A fascinating — and at times queasy — read about a disease that has changed the way we eat: The deficiency (nicotinic acid) is why so many packaged foods today are enriched with niacin and B vitamins. A few unfortunate design decisions aside (occasional pages of white on red are difficult to read), this is an intriguing look at the intersection of science and social science. Black-and-white photographs illustrate the volume. (Age 12 and older)

One hundred years ago, a mysterious and alarming illness spread across America's South, striking tens of thousands of victims. No one knew what caused it or how to treat it. People were left weak, disfigured, insane, and in some cases, dead.

Award-winning science and history writer Gail Jarrow tracks this disease, commonly known as pellagra, and highlights how doctors, scientists, and public health officials finally defeated it. Illustrated with 100 archival photographs, Red Madness includes stories about real-life pellagra victims and accounts of scientific investigations. It concludes with a glossary, timeline, further resources, author's note, bibliography, and index. This book is perfect to share with young readers looking for a historical perspective of the Covid-19/Coronavirus pandemic that is gripping the world today.