Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-03-23
GoIdenrod Myth Exploded.

Hoinenrod nyth Brpiodec.
Goldenrod r. not included in tho 60 |
lected assortment Of irritsnts. Golden |
rod pollen ~ ircavy and ls not carried |
by the wind. Both goldenrod and roses
are regarded by scientists as negligi- !
bic in producing hay fever. In spite Of
the popular theory that makes these
two flowers prime causes Of hay fever
attacks. Unless a patient comes in
close contact with theee plants. the
pollen of which IL disseminated by in
/ sects. the clinic doctor does not try the
pollen as u possible cause OF the dis
case
Along with n dozen weed and gras,
( pollens the doctor next lays ont Walls
/ containing other possible causes Of hay
fever. The labels on those are surpris-
ing. We are accustomed to calling all
sorts OF seasonal ssthnatic and sneez-
ing attacks by the term hay fever.
whether ragwee6 or timothy or some
other plant Is the exciting cause. But
Il is strange 70 think Of hay fever
as being due TO cat hairs. fur. chicken
feathers, rice pcwder, orris, or horse
dander. Yet these are the labels on
some Of the bottles chosen for the
test.
1t II only in a comparatively few in
stances that hay fever Is traced TO
these unusual irr.tants. The feathers
in pillow case have been known 20
cause attacks. Grains OF orr4s IN racr
or tooth powder. or even tho organic
matter OF a fur neckpiece may, II IN
haled by highly sensitive nose, bs
the exciting agent OF a hay fever case
The doctor arranges his bottles. tn.
patient bares one arm TO the elbow
The nurse cleanses Il with alcohol
and the test begins.
! Eighteen drops Of an alkaline so
: luton are placed along the arm, an,
! then with a eterilized needle the doc
> tor quickly makes light scratch, no
deep enough 10 draw blood. wher
each drop of liquid is. A tiny sampl
: Of one selected irritant Is then adde,
to each Of the IS drops. and the pa
tient settles down for 20 minutes {
: wait for the skin 10 react.
-' Action on the Skin.
9 At the end of that time the arm tell
? an interesting story to the specialis
Some Of the extracts have entere
their scratches without any disturb
:, ing effect. Other pOllens have set tn
skin to itching in protest. and pin
welts have risen around these scratch
, es. These are the agents to which IN
patient Is sensitive. This ends &C
one of the drama so far as that pa
tent is concerned,
The next time she visits the clini,
the doctor proceeds 70 make NOR
= rows of scratches and to apply Z
them different strength solutions {
) the pollen or OthCr matter whic
{ seems 10 be the worst irritant. o
p his card telling the history OF the cas-
p he carefully draws the outline OF III
little welts which are produced by tn
J.! disturbing extracts. AT each visit III
patient has fewer OF the welts as sh
N becomes accustomed 10 stronger SC
d lutions.
: The reaction may be understoo
better by comparing It 10 the way I
: which dope" gradually fails to TAX
effect unless larger and larger dose
y are taken. The pollen extracts are
no way like dope, but the process
d lmmunization is similar. Beginnin
with one part OF pollen 10 10000 part
- "a AAAASAAt' SNth[udAiE the uOClcE WO<H
If up to injections OF one part pollen I
only 100 parts OF. diluent. II tn
& patient fails to react TO this strong
dose OF pollen it is presumed that sh
d is no longer sensitive TO that pal
II ticular agent of hay fever.
IS II her nasal membrane is especialI
a. sensitive it may be that other unteste
l. agents win still attack Il and sh
a may suffer from hay fever in spite c
N immunization TO one kind OF poilel
"a but the chances are good that IN
,a patient will escape, or at most 81,
"a will have a light attack.
Successes and Failures.
y The clinic doctor says that accord
10 ing TO the experience of men workin
- in this field 25 or 80 per cent OF III
:. cases given preventive treatment az
cured. Ten per cent are not beueate
the first year. The rest are benefite
50 TO 75 per cent.
Hay fever is not easily cured Ono
ct THIS NAN WAS HELPED.