The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-14

every year IN late august py ABOUT
10 TO Is per cent of American citi-
zens when the ragweed pollen be-
gins to drop out Of the sky, sowing
hay fever, sneezing. watery eyes
and asthma in its wake. Family
akin, am happy to say, the feel
ing is, but still distinctly annoy
ing and uncomfortable and incon-
veniencing.
There is another hay fever sea-
son in the spring due to the trees
and the grasses, and a certain
small proportion of the population
are sensitive to some plants all the
year around. But our worst and
most annoying hay fever plant is
the ragweed. In the west, south
west and Pacific Coast regions
sisters of the ragweed - sage,
burweed, etc. - cause hay fever,
but they do not pollinate nearly
as abundantly nor are as many
Of the population susceptible to
them.
Valuable Data
In the intensive study Of this
enemy which has been carried on
scientifically for about a quarter
of a century a number of valuable
data have accumulated. First, the
old-time hayfeverite's idea that
some years are worse than others
has been abundantly proved.
Measurements Of the actual depth
Of the fall Of pollen have shown
that since 1920 the best years for
humans, the lightest fall Of pollen,
occurred in 1880 and 1886. The
worst recorded year was 1889,
when four and d half times as
much pollen fell as in 1880, 1913
was medium average, 1914 re-
mains TO be seen.
The season lasts approximately
from the 18th Of August to the
25th Of September. Carefully
measured pollen falls in many
cities indicate the height Of the
season is from about the 18th Of
August to the 10th Of September.
In most places the peak occurs on
August Both, when the unit meas
urement reaches 1900 as COM
pared to so on August 18th and
September 18th. II you are q hay
feverite and can get q months
vacation, take 1t between those
latter dates; II you can get only
two weeks vacation, take it from
August 25th to September 10th.
Geographical distribution Is now
also . matter of exact record. The
fellow who likes to boast that in
his climate he has TO stand more
hay fever than anybody else can
now be checked. The champion is
the denizen Of Indianapolis. That
is the plague spot, with st. Louis,
Buffalo, Omaha, Milwaukee and
my own native Kansas City not
far behind.
Averages In Different locations
II you took the amount Of pollen
that falls in indianapolis to be
represented by an object the size
of q grapefruit, st. Louis, Kan
sas City, Omaha, Buffalo, ETC., the
size Of q large orange; Detroit,
Louisville, Oklahoma City, and
Memphis the size of q lemon;
Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and Hous-
ton and Atlanta the size Of q plum,
you get an overall picture. New
York, Philadelphia and Washing
ton stack up on this scale about
the size Of q walnut; Boston and
Toronto the size Of a grape and
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Reno,
Portland and Seattle the size Of q
grain Of rice. Around the North
ern shores Of the Great Lakes it
varies with the wind direction on
different days, but never gets
larger than the grain Of rice stage.
Any mountain region Is compare
. lively free.
This geographical distribution
indicates where the hayfeverite
should 60 on his vacation, and also
why, for instance, the allergists
of the Pacific Coast and Boston re-
port SO much better results from
their pre-seasonal pollen vaccines.
In treatment, vacation (removal
70 ragweed-free districts) and air
filtered and air conditioned rooms
are the best. Other forms Of treat
fnent wa will discuss tornorrou