The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-08-28
A New Theory Of Hay Fever.

In 1879 DR.. Morrell Wymsn, Of Cam.
bridge. Mass, published treatise on
hay fever in which he recoguiE ID Two
distinct forms, namely ''rose cold ="
or "June cold," occurring in May or
June and corresponding to the hay
asthma OF England and the continent,
and later form beginning in August
and lasting several weeks into the tall,
to which ho gave the name OF "autum-
nal catarrh." Subsequently DR.. Black
ley, OF Manchester, England, pursued q
serious OF ingenious researches TO sup
port theory that hay fever is cansed
mainly il not exclusively by the pollen
Of grass. Tho studies OF Helnholtz,
Wyman, and Blackley We refer to be-
cause, in point Of time, they are among
the latest, and for the reason thai they
have each BEEN regarded as important
steps toward the thorough comprehen
sion OF the malady. A new work on
the subject has now Just left the press,
in which all previous theories are rO-
viewed, and the results OF probably the
most extended investigation ever made
into tho causes and nature Of the disease
are placed before the public. The
author is DR.. George Mr.. Beard OF New
York city, and tho method in which the
inquiry has been conducted, together
with the facts ELECTED, will commend
the work even to those who may not be
disposed to accept the theories adduced.
Following the example OF Darwin and
Galton, DR.. Beard prepared series OF
fifty five questions, which were designed
to exhaust all sources Of facts Of which
the majority OF physicians and patients
were capable Of Judging. From the an'
swers, critically compared and statisti'
cally arranged, covering the circumstan.
ces Of two hundred cases, the author
reaches the following general conclu.
sions: ... .aLr- Ma .'
Hay fever is essentially neurosis,
that is, a functional disease Of the ner-
vous system. In order to induce m Mt
tack there is necessary, first Of all,
predisposition, frequently hereditary, to
special and excessive sensibility Of tho
nerves supplying the affected parts. All
forms OF tho disease in nil countries,
whether occurring in the spring, sum.
mer, or autumn, lre but manifestations
Of ono disease, for which tho most mp.
propriate name is "summer catarrh, "
which may be subdiyided into m carly
form, middle form or July cold, and
tLo latter form or "autumnal catarrh. "
As tho disease is not due to any single
specific cause, animal or vegetable, as
has been supposed, no specific will ever
be found for it. Tho attacks may be
prevented and relieved. and sometimes
remedies will act specifically on indi-
viduals; but no ono remedy will ever
DO found to act in all cases. The lead
ing indications in the prevention and
treatment OF the disease are the avoid
anco OF light, heat, worry, dust, vegeta-
bic aud animal irritants, aud other e1-
citing causes, fortiiying the system by
tonics before and during the attack, and
relieving the symptoms by those seda-
tivos and anodynes, locally or generally
administered, which are found by ex.
perience to be best adapted for each in
dividual case. ---
These indications can he met by
spending the season Of the attack at sea,
or in elevated mountainous regions, or
in high ATTITUDES ut any elevation where
tue mir is sufficiently cool, or at the sea-
shore, or, for those who cannot leave
their homes, in quiet, cool, closed, and
darkeued rooms.
For those who, in spite Of these pre-.
clutions or from inability to take them,
are attacked with tho disease, the rene
dies should bc quinine, arsenic, iron,
and electricity, before and during the
attack local applications of quininC
and camphor by the atomizer; and for
palliatives, any one or several OF the
great variety OF remedies that expert
mcnt shows to be most useful for each
individual. .. .-