The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-08-14

eAAA OuSoCAO
DIR. ClendeninE collec t ing
plants. butterflies and curious
bits of mineral formation, which
he took home and mounted in
his museum. His name was
John Bostock, and he gave the
first clear account of hay fever.
The patient whom he de-
scribed was "J.B., aged 46, of a
spare and rather delicate habit,
but capable of considerable ex-
ertion." This patient, as he
confeSses, is himself.
SYMPTOMS
AS to the description of his
disease, he says:
"AbOut the beginning or mid.
die of June in every year the
following symptoms make their
appearance, with a greater or
less degree of violence. A sen.
Sation of heat and fullneSS is
experienced in the eyes, first
along the edges of the lids, and
especially in the inner angles.
but after some time over the
whole of the ball.
This state gradually increases,
until the most acute itching and
Smarting, accompanied with a
feeling of small points striking
upon or dartinc into the ball.
is experienced. This state of
the eyes comes on in parox.
ySms, at uncertain intervals,
from about the second week in
June until about the middle Of
July. To this succeeds irrita-
ton of the nose, producing
SneeZing, which occurs in fits of
extreme violence. To the SneeZ-
ings are added a further SenSa-
ton of tightness of the chest
and difficulty of breathing"
WRITTEN IN 1919
This account was written in
1919 when he was 46 years old.
Bostock had no very clear idea
of what caused the condition,
although it seems certain to us
with our knowledge. that he
was suffering from hay fever.
The fall hay fever which we
have is rare there, because our
prolific ragweed does not grow
there.
It is interesting to note that
Bostock employed many rem"
edies, and most of the sufferers
will sympathize with him when
he says:
"T6pical bleeding, purging,
blisterS, spare diet, bark and
various other tOnicS, steel, OPT
UNI, alternative courses of mer-
curry, cold bathing, digitaliS, and
a number of topical applications
to the eyes, have been fully
tried, but it is doubtful whether
any distinct or permanent bene-
fit has been derived from any
of them"
He made this observation
however:
at may form an important
addition to the narrative to
state, that during the last sum-
mer the patient was SO situated
as to be able to avoid almost
every degree of bodily exertiOn;
he remained confined to the
house for about six weeks, and
the result was that, nOtwith-
standing the unusual warmth of
the season, he experienced much
less of the affection than he had
done for several years before"
In other words, he closed him
self up so the pollens could not
get to him.
For those who feel as if they
were going to die of hay fever.
it may be comforting to know
that John Bostock did not die
until he was 70 years old, and it
took cholera to carry him off.
EDITORS NOTE: Six pam.
phletS by DR.. Clendening can
now be obtained by sending 10
cents in coin, for each, and a
Self-addressed envelope stamped
with a threecent stamp, to DR..
Logan Clendening, in care Of
this paper. The pamphlets are:
Indigestion and Constipation"
Reducing and Gaining" I'm"
FAINT Feeding" instructions for
the Treatment of Diabetes"
Feminine Hygiene" and 1.-THE
Care of the Hair and Skin"