Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1915-09-16
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. WEEDS
IN THE UNITED STATES
By w. Scheppegrell, A. M, M. D., New
Orleans, Louisiana, President
American Hay-Fever-Pre-
vention Association.
vention Association.

Some weeks ago, the American Hay
Fever-Prevention Association publish
ed through the press its General In
structions regarding the prevention Of
hay-fever. These directions avoided
any reference TO the general or local
causes which form the predisposing
factor to hay-fever, but were directed
to the destruction or avoidance Of the
noXious weeds whose pollen form the
exciting cause. They we're limited
moreover to the fall or most common
type of hay-fever, commencing from
the first part Of the jury to the end of
August and lasting for about six
weeks or until frost or maturity ar
rests the pollinating process.
The chief cause of the fall hay-fever
is the pollen of the two varieties of
rag-weed. While the instructions
aroused a great deal of interest and
were utilized even by some of the State
Boards of Health, there was found to
be an unexpected ignorance in most
sections as to what constituted the
| .rag-weed."
In the Middle and Northern States,
the wormwood rag-weed is by far the
most frequent, being especially prev
alent in neglected fields, yards and
road-sides. 1t is usually found in
fields where a crop of wheat, rye or
oats has been harvested in early sum-
mer and afterwards neglected 1t
grows from one to five feet in height
The irritating principle of both rag
weeds is formed in the spike-like flow
er, being yellowish in color, and al
most slight as smoke. 1t is so
abundant that during the stage of pol
lination it will stain ones clothes yell
low while passing through such q
field. 1t is so extremely light that it
is almost impossible to collect any
amount of it without its being blown
away.
Laboratory investigators have iso-
lated large number Of plants whose
pollen will produce the characteristic
reaction of hay-fe 'er; but, from the
standpoint of the practical sanitarian,
we must give our special attention to
those pollens that are naturally found
in the atmosphere in sufficient abund-
ance to produce the symptoms of hay
fever. The Golden Rod, for instance,
has been accused of being responsible
for so per cent of all cases of hay
fever The committee on Original Re
search of the American Hay-FeVer
Prevention Association has demon
strated the fact, however, that the
Golden Rod belongs to group of only
Is per cent of that do not owe their
origin to the rag-weed.
An obvious reason for the Golden
Rod not being responsible for large
number of cases is that it's pollen is
not .wind-blown, but heavy and tena-
cious, so that the majority of patients
are affected only in the event that the
nostrils are placed in close proximity
to the flower The pollen is the rag
weed, however, is easily detached in
clouds and is distributed by the wind
over a large territory. Besides, the
usual attacks or fall hay-fever suffer
ers are co-incident with the pollina-
ton of the rag-weed. while the Golden
Rod frequently blooms for weeks af-
ter the attacks have subsidized.
The most active stage of the rag
weed is in the month of September
and every effort should be made at
this time to destroy these noxious
weeds. This will not only be a source
of relief to hay-fever sufferers sensi-
tive to these pollens, but will prevent
the formation Of the seed, which will
produce the weeds in great abundance
the following year.
The object of the American Hay
Fever-Prevention Association is the
dissemination of general knowledge of
benefit to sufferers form hay-fever,
the. education of the public regarding
the weeds that are known to produce
this disease, and the use of its inf1u-
ence and cooperation towards the
eradication of such weeds. By means
Of lectures and articles in the scienti-
fic and public press, it is endeavoring
to educate the public in the relation of
certain weeds to hay-feVer, and the
best methods for their avoidance and
eradication.
One aim of the Association is to see
that this important matter is treated
with the respect and consideration
which it merits. A maIady, with which
hundreds of thousands are, afflicted,
which has among its complications
many catarrhal diseases, asthma,
bronchitis, infections of the cavities |
of the head and ear diseases, and |
which is so depressing in its effects
on the nervous system that exen many |
cases of suicide are attributed to this
cause, justly demands the most care
full and dignifed consideration.
MalariaI fever, in recent years has |
been enormously diminished by pre-
ventive methods, such as draining |
swamps; typhoid fever has been de-