The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-12-03
HAY.FEvER AND IT'S CURE,

n faDcT ltcbu ny bepru DeIOre the
Public Health Association of Phiia-
delphia.
DR.. Beard read a paper before the
American Public Health Association of
Philadelphia, on the subject of ebay
Fever and its Cure" The doctor be-
gan his investigations on this subject
by preparing " circular of inquiry"
which he sent all over the country-to
persons suffering from the disease, to
physicians, to scientific persons, and in
fact to all who could aid him in his re-
searches upon this subject. From the
information thus obtained he arrived
at the conclusions embodied in his
paper, OF which the following is
synopsis:
Hay fever is complex and not SIM
pie disease, as has been generally un-
derstood. The first element OF the dis
ease is nervo-bilious temperament,
or, at least, a temperament in which
the nervous element predominates.
Hay-fever patients are the class of pa
tients subject to other nervous dis
eases. The second factor in this dis
ease is heat following cold. The heat
of hot climates does not seem to act as
cause, but the heat of temperate
climates following the cold weather.
The disease is found only in that belt
where there are extremes of tempera-
ture. Third-Various exciting causes,
over twenty or more in number, such
as perfume of flowers, dust, indoor and
outdoor, fresh hay, old hay, bright
sunlight, gaslight, close confined air,
smoke, clnders, hulling of corn, Roman
wormwood, sneeze-weed, over-exertion,
etc. In order to get up case of hay
fever two of these three factors, GER
tainly the first two, are necessary. The
exciting causes are named under the
third head, and have been regarded as
the disease, hence the name hay-fever,
peach cold, rose-cold, etc. One might
as we'll call sick-headache a sausage
headache, because it may be at times
caused by eating sausages. The ma
jority of the patients afflicted with hay
fever who are reported to me are of
American birth. DIR. jacob, of New
York, whose experience and practice
among the better class of Germans are
very large, tells me that he has never
known a case CT hay-fever among Ger
mans in this country. L suspect that
among the foreign popu, alton not born
in this country hay-fever is compare
lively rare ; just as among the same
classes nervous disease of all kinds are
comparatively rare.
After person has once been at
tackled he seems to be for all his life
liable to be again attacked. Now and
then one may go over a yeal without
the disease, but this is rare. Some
times the disease increases in severity
with years, and sometimes diminishes.
A majority of my patients have tried
the local application of the solution of
quinine, as recommended by Helmholtz,
and they report that it is little or no
good. Among the regions which hay
fever patients visit with benefit, I may
mention the White Mountains and the
ocean everywhere, at least in cold
climes for those who take sea voyages
almost never suffer while at sea, but
may be attacked as soon as they land
A trip to Europe, the Adirondack
region and the island of Mackinaw are
very highly recommended by some.
DR.. Dennison, of Denver, Colorado,
sends me a pamphlet which reports
that some cases of hay-fever have been
cured by a residence in that locality.
Like other nervous diseases, it is
powerfully under the influence of the
mind. The striking periodicity of the
disease coming on as it does, in GER
tain case, at precisely the same day OF
hour, is probably the result i'll part OF
expectation of the patient that it will
come then. The plan of treatment that
1 would suggest for hay-fever is as fol.
lows First, to prevent the disease.
As early as March or April the patient
should begin to take course of nerve
tonic treatment. L would recommend
it to be arsenic, phosphorus in its vari.
Gus forms, cod liver oil, iodoform and
electricity, especially the methods OF
general galvanization and general
faridization. When the disease appears
the great dependence must be on local
treatment, combined with general tonic
, treatment. Mr.. friend, DIR. W. f.
, Hutchinson, of Providence, had case
this year, which he broke up by central
g0lvanization. I relieved decidedly one
case and somewhat relieved another
by local galvanization externally. The
, remedies should be used thoroughly.
The great trouble with those who gal
vanize themselves is that they do moi
} completely and thoroughly bring the
remedies to act upon ali the sinuou;
' and tortuous lining membrane of the
nasal passages.