Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-21
PLANS UNITED FIGHT
ON CAUSE OF HAY FEVER.
Health Board suggests Laws for De-
struction of DlScase-Sp Spreading
wccda.

Good news for sufferers from hay
fever is found In plan recently
| launched to make the prevention Of
that disease a national as we'll as a
! State and local problem In bulletin
that has just reached the State Board
OF Health, DIR. William SchepperErell
president of the American Hay Fever
Prevention Association and chief OF
tho hay fever clinic at the Charity
Hospital, New Orleans. discusses the
causes Of the disease and outlines
what he considers as the immediate
measures that ought to be taken to
bring relief. Among other things, Dr.
Scheppergrell says:
There is no preventable disease Of
serious Importance that has received
so little attention as hay fever AL
though ranking as one of the most
common OF the nonfatal diseases, II Is
only recently that any organized eff
forts have been made for it's proven
ton.
l. Records show that about / per cent
OF the population of the United States
is subject to hay fever, so that the
number. about 100000 is sufficient TO
demand the most earnest considera-
ton.
The serious effect of hay fever is
not we'll understood. From one to two
months. and sometimes much longer
the patient suffers from symptoms
which depress his vitality and lower
his energy. Asthma and bronchitis
are complications in a large number
OF cases. We have had two cases OF
hernia from violent sneezing, one case
of mastoiditis and other complications
OF minor Importance. Marked nervous
depression is common among hay fever
sufferers
About 90 per cent of the fall cases
OF hay fever in the Eastern and
Southern States are due to the common
and giant rag-weeds. the remainder
being due to the cookie bur- marsh
elder and a few other weeds. The
golden rod. roses and rosin weed. as
sociated with hay fever in the public:
mind, are not responsible Vernal hay
fever is due principally to the pollen
OF the grasses, in addition to that Of
certain weeds. Only in certain locali-
ties arc the pollcns from trees re-
sponsible.
The remedy evidently is the con-
troll OF weeds. AS 1t is impracticabie
TO destroy all weeds, it is importan,
To know the distance to which their
pollen may be carried. One mile is
sufficient protection from most of the
pollens that cause carly hay fever.
The common raGweed. however.
should be excluded to at least five
miles from populated areas
"LeEiSlation for the effective proven
ton OF hay fever should include mu-
nicipal. State and Federal laws City
Snpuiu not only be enacted
against weeds, but should specify that
when the property holder does not cut
his weeds. the city may have the work
done at his expense.
state laws should specify that land
within one mile of cities should not
be allowed 10 reach the poliinatinE
stage. and. in the case of raE-weed
this distance should be we miles
The real solution Of the hay-fcvcr
problem. however. is within the power
of the Federal governments. II farm
ers should be compelled TO destroy hay
lever weeds on their farms the result
would not only be an enormous rcduc-
ton OF such weeds, hut would also be
Of great benefit 10 the farms. as the
lifted States pcrtment OF Agricul-
iu." has repeatedly shown that millions
of dollars are lost annually from the
neglect OF weeds.
when We realize the great amount
OF suffering that may be prevented. and
tho great Improvement in the eff
nciency OF our agricultural methods
that would be effected by the same
means. the enactment OF such laws
should be strongly urged by all those
interested in relieving mankind from
tic oppression of this distressing dis
ease"