Gaspar Casal

Spanish physician known for his work on pellagra

Portrait of a physician, by Francisco de Goya

Gaspar Casal (1680 – 1759) was a prominent Spanish physician, best known for his pioneering work on the disease pellagra. His detailed observations and documentation of the condition in the region of Asturias laid the foundation for future research into nutritional deficiencies.

Early Life and Education

Gaspar Casal was born in 1680 in Gerona, Catalonia, Spain. Little is known about his early life, but it is believed that he pursued medical studies in France, where he was exposed to the latest medical theories and practices of the time. His education abroad provided him with a broad perspective on medicine, which he later applied in his work in Spain.

Career

Casal began his medical career in the region of Asturias, where he served as a physician for many years. It was during his time in Asturias that he made his most significant contributions to medicine. Casal was a keen observer and meticulously documented the health conditions of the local population.

Discovery of Pellagra

While working in Asturias, Casal observed a peculiar disease affecting the rural population, characterized by skin lesions, diarrhea, and mental disturbances. He noted that the disease was prevalent among the poor, who primarily consumed a diet based on maize. Casal's detailed description of the disease, which he called "mal de la rosa," was the first comprehensive account of what would later be known as pellagra.

Casal hypothesized that the disease was related to dietary deficiencies, particularly the over-reliance on maize as a staple food. His work laid the groundwork for later discoveries that linked pellagra to a deficiency in niacin (vitamin B3).

Legacy

Gaspar Casal's contributions to medicine were not fully recognized during his lifetime, but his work on pellagra was later acknowledged as groundbreaking. His observations were published posthumously in the book "Historia Natural y Médica del Principado de Asturias," which became an important reference for future researchers.

Casal's work influenced later physicians and researchers, including Joseph Goldberger, who confirmed the link between pellagra and niacin deficiency in the early 20th century.

Related Pages

• Pellagra
• Niacin
• Joseph Goldberger
• Asturias