Arizona republican., 1922-03-21
By Ripley


tants which might throw light on the
case. First selected for the test are
the usual weed pollens that are dis
tributed at the time of the year when
the patient is affected. Grass and
tree pollens, the doctor explains. are
most often responsible for hay fever
attacks in the spring.
In the late summer and fall rag
weed is the worst offender. More
cases OF hay fever are due to rag
weed than to any other plant. The
pollen OF this week is so light and
fine that a wind travelling 20 miles
an hour Will carry the grains five
miles. Thus the pollen is brought in
to city streets from vacant lots. weed
grown back yards, and even from the
suburbs.
GoIdenrod Myth Exploded.
Goldenrod is not included in the Sc
lected assortment of irritants. Col
denrod pollen is heavy and is not car
ried by the wind Both goldenrod and
roses are regarded by scientists as
negligible factors 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
these plants. the pollen of which is
disseminated by insects, the clinic
doctor does not try the pollen as a.
possible cause of the disease.
Along with a dozen weed and grass
pollens the doctor next lays out vials
containing other possible causes OF
hay fever. The labels on these are
surprising. We are accustomed 70
calling all sorts of seasonal asthmatic
and sneezing attacks by the term hay
fever, whether ragweed or timothy or
some other plant is the exciting
cause. But il is strange TO think OF
hay fever as being due to cat hairs,
fur. chicken feathers, rice powder
orris. or horse dander. Yet these are
the labels on some of the bottles
chosen for the test.
II is only in a comparatively few
instances that hay fever is traced TO
these unusual irritants The feathers
in a pillow case have been known TO
cause attacks. Grains of orris in face
or tooth powder, or even the organic
matter Of a fur neckpiece may, II in
hailed by a highly sensitive nose. oe
the exciting agent of a hay fever case.
The doctor arranges his bottles.
The patient bares one arm to the ell
bow. The nurse cleanses it with al
cohol, and the test begins.
Eighteen drops Of an alkaline So
luton are placed along the arm. ana
then with a steriliZed needle the doc
tor quickly makes a light scratch. not
deem enough the draw blood, where
each drop OF liquid is. tiny sam
pie of one selected irritant IS then
added to each of the is drops, and
the patient settles down for twenty
minutes to wait for the skin 10 react
Action on the Skin
At the end of that time the arm
tells an interesting story TO the spe-
cialist. Some of the extracts nave
entered their scratches without any
disturbing effect. Other pollens nave
set the skin to itching in protest. anu
pink welts have risen around these
scratches. These are the agents 70
which the patient is sensitive. This
ends act one OF the drama so tar
as that patient is concerned.
The next time she visits the clinic
the doctor proceeds to make more
rows Of scratches and TO apply tneIn
10 different strength solutions or the
nollen or other matter which seems
Ia be the worst irritant, On his cara
telling the history of the case he care
fully draws the outline OF the little
welts around which are produced oy
the disturbing extracts. AT each VS.
il the patient has fewer OF the weits
as she becomes accustomed TO the
stronger solutions.
The reaction may be understood py
comparing it TO the way IN Wnlcn
"Sope" gradually fails TO take erect
unless larger and larger doses are
taken The pollen extracts are in no
wav like dope. but the process or m
munization is similar Beginning WIN
one part of pollen to 10000 parts OF
diluent. eventually the doctor works
mn to injections OF one part OF pollen
to only 100 parts of diluent.
II the patient fails to react to TINS
strong a dose of pollen, it is pre-
sulned that she is no longer sensi-
tive to that particular agent OF nay
fever. ,.,
IF her nasal membrane is especial
ly sensitive it may be that other un-
tested agents will still attack II ana
She may suffer from hay fever IN
spite of immunization TO one Kihu VI
nollen. but the chances are good tlat
The patient will escape, or at worst
she will have a light attack.
Successes and Failures
The clinic doctor says that ac-
cording to the experience of men
Working in this field. % to 30 per
cent of the cases given preventive
treatment are cured. Ten per cent
are moi benefited the first year. The
rest are benefited from so to 20 per
cent.
Hay fever is not easily cured. once
a person has an attack the mem
brane of the nose is weakened.
Thereafter that person is apt to be
less able to withstand the pollens IN
the atmosphere Regularly the at
tacks come at a time of the year
when the air is filled with the agent
which affects him, unless he is cured
by some treatment ar unless hs