The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-04-20
The PEOPLES HEALTH
By Samuel @. Pavlo. MD.
HAY FEVER


there is also itching of the palate,
around the ears or other parts of the
face. Occasionally it is complicated
by wheeling and asthmatic breathing.
Hay Fever is a seasonal disease de-
pending entirely on the dates of polli-
nation of trees, grasses and weeds,
and the symptoms correspond to the
exact period when the particular pol
len appears in the air. The process
of fertilization of the flower by the
transfer of pollen from the anthers
to the stigmas of the pistil is called
pollination. 1t is evident that only
wind-borne pollen comes in contact
with man and affects him. The insect
borne pollen or the pollen which ferti-
Lies in the same flower does not float
in the aid and does not come in con-
tact with man and affects him. The
insect-borne pollen or the pollen which
fertilizes in the same flower does not
float in the air and does not come in
contact with man freely.
1t is estimated that an average per-
son inhales about 1000 pollen grains
in twenty-four hours, depending upon
the quentity of pollen in the air. The
wind carries the pollen high on a dry,
sunny day.
There is as much pollen at an ele-
walton of 1000 feet as at sea level.
1t diminishes in amount above 5000
feet elevation, becoming almost nil at
$4,000 feet. That is why Hay Fever
sufferers who go to the White Noun
tains to escape the fortunes of the
disease are sadly disappointed. The
elevation is not high enough to pre-
vent the wind from carrying the pollen
up. The faster person moves, the
more pollen he inhales. A patient
riding fast in an automobile or train
encounters a greater amount of pollen
and suffers more from symptoms than
when walking.
Sunshine stimulates the production
of pollen, while cloudy days are un-
favorable. A slow or heavy rain over
several days will free the air from
pollen, because of the lessened pro-
duction and the settling down of the
pollen. Pollination ceases when the
temperature falls below 60 degrees,
while a temperature of rs degrees is
the most favorable Off opening flow
ers. They usually open in the morn
ing, and the pollen is carried by wind
In great quantities at that time. The
knowledge of all these factors of pol
lination is important to interpret and
fully to understand the symtomato-
logy and treatment of the Hay Fever
patient.
Heredity in Hay Fever is a very i'm
portant factor. Children of parents
suffering from this disease inherit not
only the constitutional susceptibility
to Hay Fever but even the particular
seasonal variety of it. The course of
the disease depends upon the concen-
tration of pollen in the air: the less
pollen, the milder the symptoms. The
date of the beginning of the symptoms,
however, is fairly constant. Patients
can tell with a fair proportion of accu-
racy what date in the season they will
to suffer from the disease.
Broadly speaking, there are three
main causes for different seasons of
Hay Fever: trees, grasses and weeds.
1t IS known that the pollinating period
is different for each of the three
groups, and that it is also not identi-
cal in different climates. In the state
OF Massachusetts the pollinating
period for trees-cedar, maple, elm,
otc.-is from March Is to May Is.
People who suffer from Hay Fever
caused by the pollen of any one of
these trees will begin their symptoms
about March Is and continue until May
Is.
The pollinating period for the grass
rs IN Massachusetts is between May
Is and June 30. However, one of the
most frequent causes of Hay Fever
Timothy grass-begins June 25 and
ends October first, fact which is
frequently overlooked.
The pollinating period of the weeds
-ragWeed, goldenrod, etc-if from
August Is till the coming of the frost.
Roughly, one can fairly well guess
from the date when his symptoms
begin which of the plants is the cause
of his Hay Fever, but since the polli-
mating period of many different plants
may fall on the same date, other
methods for diagnosis for the causa-
tive factor must be employed.
1t is known that when pollen, or
of them, are applied to a
scratched skin, an infammatory reac-
ton will result if the person is a Hay
Fever patient suffering from this par
ticular pollen. This Scratch test"
is being used to find out the particular
flower that causes the Hay Fever. 1t
is then that the treatment is pre-
scribed
Since it is impossible for people with
average means to travel to countries
which are free from the plants that
cause Hay Fever, other means for
treatment must be employed Fortu-
nately, medical science has discovered
means of completely relieving the
symptoms of the disease.
Injections of the extracts of the
offending pollen in gradually increas-
ing doses will develop an immunity in
the blood. These injections should be
given few months before the symp-
toms begin so that the patients immu-
nifty is built up by the time the season
of his Hay Fever commences. Some
specialists advise a so-called peren-
NAL treatment: injections throughout
the year at weekly intervals. 1t is
believed that the latter treatment is
more successful.