1. Peasants & Pellagra in 19th-century Italy.
- Author
-
Gentilcore, David
- Subjects
PELLAGRA ,PEASANTS ,AGRICULTURAL history ,POLENTA ,CORN ,ITALIAN history -- 19th century ,HISTORY - Abstract
The article discusses the pellagra epidemic among Italian peasants from the mid-19th century to the onset of World War I and its relationship to the introduction of maize from Central America to Italy. According to the article, maize was the primary crop of united Italy by 1870. It discusses maize polenta as a staple in Italy, and the correlation between the consumption of maize and the development of pellagra. The article also discusses the debate between physicians Clodomiro Bonfigli and Cesare Lombroso concerning pellagra patients in insane asylums.
- Published
- 2014