The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-20
American Hay Fever Proven
ton Society Finds Remedy.
New Orleans Experiment. Proves
a Big Success, Report Says.
LOCAL SUFFERERS INTERESTED
Fight the Weed, Is Motto of
Fighters i'm 16 States.
State Boards of Health CO-Oper-
ate In Work of Eradication.

HAY fever victims in Topeka see a
port In storm. Recently such vet
Grams as w. H. WATSON, city commits
s SIC OF finance and DR.. L. NJ. Pow
ell and others of equally well known
nay fever fame, have received from
the American Hay Fever Prevention
association the story of the first sue
malady
The pamphlet which was prepared
by DR.. w. Scheppegrell, A M, ex-
president of the American Academy
or Ophthalmology and Oto-Laryn-
gology, tells of the fight made in New
Orleans, La.
Win First Fight.
After having started a campaign of
public education in the United States
showing that hay fever is due to the
poiIen or weeds and that fall hay
fever, the most common form, is due
In almost all cases to the two varieties
or rag weed, the common rag weed
(amDros1a artemisiifolia) found in the
mlGdle and northern states, and the
giant rag weed (ambrosia trifida)
more common in the moist lands of
the coast, the American Hay Fever
prevention association has concentrat-
ed its first efforts in New Orleans
with the first inning to it's credit" the
report reads.
The public was first educated re-
gard1ng the rag weeds, SO that they
could be easily recognized. Illustrations
of the weeds We're published in the
bulletin of the state medical board of
health and the public press, and the
live weeds, in full development, were
exhibited in the show windows of the
street.
The city of New Orleans, through
the commissioner of public works.
placed at the disposal of the associa-
ton twenty convictS, who cleared the
streets and sidewalks of the outer sec
tons of the city of the weeds, in ac-
cordance with map prepared by the
Typographical committee of the asso-
citation, showing the areas infected
with rag weed.
The state board of health published
the illustrations of the rag weeds and
abstract CT the instructions for hay
fever sufferers, and the city board of
ting of weeds on vacant lots. The
commissioners of the various parks
had the rag weeds destroyed in the
public parks under the direction of the
association"
Other Towns Can Profit.
DR.. w. ScheppegreII, president of
the American Hay Fever Prevention
association states that what has been
effected in New Orleans can be done
in all other towns and cities, and eff
forts in this direction :. II be started in
the spring
Hay fever is a distinctive prevent
able disease, and Dr. Scheppegrell be-
lieves that in a few years cases will
depend upon the degree to which 10
calities are infected with the hay
fever producing weeds and the energy
of the people in destroying them.
Sixteen States Cooperate.
The prevention society has had en-
cou- ging offers of active co-opera-
ton from a large number of state
boards of health, among which
are Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Ida
no, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky.
Massachusetts, Michigan,
New York, North Carolina,
Virginia and West Virginia
The United States board of agricul-
ture is assisting, and DR.. Rupert Blue,
surgeon general of the United States
public health service, in a commune
cation to the association states as fol-
lows: at appears that the most prac-
-ical method of securing the co-opera-
lion of the public would be by educa-
lion as to the effect of the presence
IF these weeds in communities from
both health and economic standpoints.
This seems to be the primary object of
your association, which is to be COM
nended for it's efforts"