The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-15

only, ana tnen only through
his column.
studies Of the last quarter century
that it is due TO the irritating prop
critics Of the pollen Of the ragweed
or some plant Of the ragweed fam
lily.
The severity Of hay fever is
worst in the region Of the Missis-
sippi Valley, is present, but not Sc
we're, on the Atlantic Coast, and
thins out almost to nothingness
in Canada, Maine, and the Pacific
Coast. The season begins about
August 18th, is at its peak from
August 25th to September 10th,
and is gone by September 30th.
As TO treatment, | never knew
Of anyone who was permanently
cured Of it. Sometimes in old age,
the individual who has suffered all
his life perhaps develops an i'm
munity and the attacks are milder,
but this is hardly worth counting
on.
So avoidance Of an attack
comes down, in my experience, TO
one of four things:
Vacation Best
First, vacation during the worst
Of the season, to a hayfeverless
climate - Canada, northern Lake
Superior or Michigan, Duluth,
California, Maine, the mountains.
This is the surest, pleasantest and
in the long run the cheapest treat
ment. --
Second, furnishing sleeping
room and working room with an
air filter in the window and an air
conditioning unit in the room. This
is effective, not too expensive, but,
Of course, has the disadvantages
of limitation Of activities. No golf,
no tennis, no exercise, no movies.
Most Of the victims Of hay fever,
however, feel if they can get
through the night comfortably and
avoid asthma they can stand the
discomforts of the daytime, Eff
cient window ventilators are
made by the Davies Air Filter Cor
poration, New York, and Ad-Lee
Company, Chicago.
Besides filtering all air from the
outside, the bedroom must be
stripped Of carpets, rugs and dra-
peries. Because during the hay fe-
yer season the individual becomes
sensitive to many things which do
not bother him during the rest of
the year, the bedding, mattress
and pillow cases should be made Of
non-allergic materials, such as are
made by Allergia Products Com
pany, Newton, Massachusetts,, and
Allergen-Proof Encasings, Cleve-
hand, Ohio.
Third - Treatment by pollen
antigens by hypodermie immuni-
zstion. This produces complete re-
lief in about rs per cent Of cases,
partial relief in about so per cent.
The antigens can be given before
the season begins, just before and
during the season or throughout
the year. The most important re-
cent discovery about them is that
the immunity they confer, if any,
is extremely shortlived. The little
fractional doses beginning long
before the season begins are all
neutralized before they are need
ed. Therefore short pre-seasonal
or during the season treatments
are probably more likely to be eff
fective. All year round immuniza-
ton for several years is a type Of
treatment best fitted only for suf-
ferers whose business will not per-
nit them a vacation during the
hay fever season. Trying TO take
pollens by mouth and obtain i'm
munization that way is q waste
of time.
Fourth-Accessory methods Of
treatment. Nasal sprays of adren-
ain, ephedrine, benzedrine, or,
probably best Of all, the newest
drug Of similar action, neo-
synephrin, give a good deal Of
temporary relief. The use Of his
taminase in the treatment Of hay
fever has been disappointing.
During the hay fever season the
sensitive victims find that many
foods which during the rest Of the
year do not affect them increase
their discomfort. Thus one person
! know cannot eat canteloupe, an.
other tomatoes, another eggs dur.
ing this period. To this extent
and this only, is the dietary treat.
ment Of hay fever worth consid.