Evening star., 1927-09-15
Hay Fever Remedies
Quoted and Discussed
To the Editor OF The Star:

10 tne EultOr OF IHe STAR.
In reply to a recent newspaper let
ter Of mine on hay fever several per.
sons and a chemical concern have
written me letters suggesting rem
edies for hay fever. AS a sufferer
from this complaint for some 25 years
perhaps the opinion I give later on in
this letter--a rather novel opinion.
1 think-concerning the nature of
this complaint and concerning rem
edies for 1t may interest the medi-
cal fraternity as well as the public.
During the early years of nv hav
fever troubles l used to do things for
1t, but / cannot say that I received
much benefit. 1t has not been so bad
some Summers as others, and | have
experienced relief on an ocean VOYAGE.
at high mountain attitudes, and also
one Summer when l was in San Fran
cisco. But l do not think that I have
been altogether free from attacks of
nay fever any year in the past 25.
For many years | have done Drac-
tically nothing to alleviate hav fever
attacks, either by remedies or change
of locality: yet the attacks have not
increased in severity, but rather
lessened during the past few years
Though possibly l am getting more
used to them now, or find that NV
present place of residence mitigates
the attacks).
AS l said in my other letter. hav
fever does not seem to shorten life
or really to affect the sufferers health
or strength. On the contrary, I am
inclined to think that hay fever suf
ferers usually have a great deal of
vitality, perhaps more than most Deo-
pie, and they are often long lived.
1t Is really my opinion that true hay
fever is not a disease or a PATHOLOGY
cal condition at all, but that il is
natural condition in those who suf
fer from 1t, just as sick headaches
seem to be natural to some people.
ana certain other complaints seem to
be natural to other people, and Just
as the eatamenia. an apparently path
illogical condition, is nevertheless
natural.
Anything that effected a stoppa ee
of the catamenia would undoubtedly
injure health. Perhaps the copio1s
! mucous discharges that hay fever suf-
ferers experience also are necessary
Tor their health, and if they were
stopped by any means the health of
the sufferer might be seriously affect.
, ed. If hay fever were strictly dis
ease" it is not likely that so MANY
persons would be secretly proud of
having hay fever (as | believe thev
are), nor is it likely that the Hay Fever
Association would have been formed
composed of the aristOcracy of "sick"
people. Some things we have to, and
ought to, grin and bear, since in
trying to rectify them we often fall
from In ;,,t1
Some people suffer from certain
complaints all their lives, vet they
live long. and their general health
ana strength are good. Why. then,
consider these complaints signs of
disease or unhealth? OF course. some
symptoms are signs of disease. but
others are caused by some small Tor
large) irregularity Of living, while
still others are natural to the con-
stitution Of the sufferer, and are sent.
perhaps. to show him that he is ONLY
u human being, subject to human
HIS. and not god as he might be
inclined to feel at those glorious
times when he is running over with
superabundant health, strength and
vitality. A too hearty meal may
cause alarming symptoms and the
mere ebb and flow of the sexual life
also causes symptoms"
Let us not doctor ourselves so
much. or worry so much about the
state OF our health. We will live
longer for less doctor;ng and less
worry. Some pains. aches and com.
plants should be simply disregarded.
as II they did not exist. This is not
CHRISTIAN Science, but the teaching
OF true religion, experience and com
mon sense. Good old family doctors
used to give bread pills for certain
pains and imaginary diseases.
CHARLES HOOPER,