Goldberger's War

American University professor Alan Kraut talked about his book, Goldberger’s War: The Life and Work of a Public Health Crusader, published by Hill and Wang Publishing. He described Dr. Joseph Goldberger’s battle to eradicate pellagra. The condition plagued people in a large area of the southern United States and was classified as an infectious disease, until Dr. Goldberger proved that pellagra was in fact a nutritional deficiency caused by insufficient quantities of niacin in the diet. He also addressed the social ramifications of the marriage of Dr. Goldberger, an Orthodox Jew from New York City, to the grandniece of Jefferson Davis. Following his presentation, Mr. Kraut answered questions from audience members. close