The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-22
Days of Horrors Are Approaches
ing Nearer-Bing!
Cut the Weeds, American Asses
citation Declares. sse
JUST A MATTER OF ORDINANCE
Towns and Cities Should Pro.
tect Their Patients.
Next Month and September
Should Be Avoided.

Persons susceptible to hay fever should
avoid renting or buying property In 2
weeds. This practice would probably be
of effective assistance in correcting such
The prevention of hay fever is funda-
mentally simple proposition. It means
the enactment and enforcement of an or
dinance to cut grass and weeds. The effi<
cacy of this has been shown In New Orr
leans. La. Asheyille, N. c., and number
of other cities where hay fever is on the
disappearing list. Another year should
see similar effects in the majority of towns
and cities,-.From the report of the Ameri-
can Hay Fever Prevention Association.
August and September-months Of
horror for the hay fever victims in
Topeka-and all over the United
States, for that matter.
There is a national organization for
the protection of the sneezers-and it
has sent out considerable literature
for the prevention of ka-choos this
year. The most important advice is
the cutting the grass and weeds. the
pollen of which, serve to make lie
miserable for the hay fever sufferers
Advice to ALI.
Here is what the American Hay
Fever Prevention association says: -
All cases of hay fever are due to the
inhalation of pollen. the majority OF
these being due to useless weeds. The
caused chiefly by the pollen of ncg-
lected grasses and of spring and sum-
mer blooming weeds.
The principal causes of hay fever
cases developing in the fall are the
various form of rag weeds, whose ca
pacity for distributing pollen is meas
ured by the hundred millions. The
most common forms of this weed are
the common rag weed (ambrosia arte-
misiaefolia) found in the greater part
of ho Iv,ff I'D fa @no aaCf Of 10
the giant rag weed (ambrosia trifida)
growing in moist areas of this section.
and the Western rag weed (ambrosia
psilostachya) principally found west
of Kansas.
Plenty of Weeds.
While the rag weeds are the chief
causes Of fall hay fever, there are
other weeds. such as the marsh elder
diva axi1laris), ETC.. which flower at
this season, so that all weeds should
he treated alike to insure safety
against hay fever. 75f
In order to avoid hay fever. persons
susceptible to it should see that the
Ileighborhood of their residence is free
of tall grasses and weeds, and espec-
tally, of the rag weeds The three
squares in each direction should be
| inspected, and if weeds are found. the
| owners should be urged to have them
cut at once. When this is refused.
these cases, in the interest OF general
sanitation, should be reported to the
health authorities for violating the
grass-weed ordinance.
In cases in which the above cannot
be carried out, 1t is sometimes prefer
able to have the weeds in the imrne-
diate neighborhood cut at ones own
expense than suffer the torture of .
prolonged attack of hay fever from
this neglect. 1t must be remembered,
however, that pollen scatters rapidly
when borne by the wind, and single
lot full of weeds in the same square
may be more irritating than an acre at
a distance of several squares =k4
Move Awayi
When the neighborhood cannot be
cleared of hay fever weeds the next
considerat ton is a temporary change
of residence. The American Hay
Fever Prevention association is In con-
slant receipt of letters iuquiring for
the best resorts for hay fever stlf-
ferers. The majority of mountain ana
seaside resorts, unfortunately, are in
fected with hay fever pollens, so that
visits to these places in the hope Of
getting relief are usually disappoinf-
ing. A careful investigation should
always be made and, unless it Is
found that all weeds and high grasses
are Systematically cut, such places
should be avoided.
AS hay fever is due to pollen of neg-
lected weeds, temporary visit to q
more central part of the home town,
at sufficient distance tone-half
mile) from such weeds, will usually
give entire relief.
Hay fever sufferers should avoid
unnecessary exposure to pollen ROADS
passing near sections full of grass and
weeds while in bloom are usually fun
of pollen which is inhaled with the
dust. An hour of pleasant driving
may therefore result in night of suf-
fering
constitutional conditions have saeerz
found to have little influence except
as a predisposing cause. The real
cause of hay fever is the inhalation OF
pollen and the avoidance of this means
no hay fever.