Red Madness

One hundred years ago, a mysterious disease called pellagra spread across the American South - "one of the most horrible, pitiful afflictions mankind has ever suffered." No one knew what caused it or how to treat it. Millions of men, women, and children were left weak, disfigured, insane, and, in some cases, dead. Many were also left to worry -- would they be pellagra's next victims? Author Gail Jarrow closely tracks this devastating disease using vivid photographs and actual cases. She reveals the story of the doctors, researchers, and public health officials who struggled to stop the epidemic. Some even risked their lives to find its cause. Meet the brave scientific detectives as they tackle this challenging and baffling medical mystery. (Book cover)