Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-07-14
This and That
By Charles E. TraceDeu.
ALTON PLACE

Dear Sir:
I am taking botany in summer school
this year and have just learned that If
weeds are cut now they will be less
likely to come up the following year
since they have used up large part of
their stored food. However, If cut later,
they will have accumulated a new sup
ply of stored food and will probably
come right up again next spring In
view of this I wondered If now might
not be a good time to appeal through
your column for the people to cut down
weeds that might cause hay fever in
few months.
Last year was a worse pollen year.
than any in long time, and since prac-
tically nothing can be done for this
harassing malady 1t seems some action
should be taken to help the thousands
of sufferers.
THE chief thing which could be done
by community action would be the clear
ing of ragweed, golden rod, ETC., now
from alleys and in vacant lots near
dwellings and along fence borders AL
though the city has Just cleared the
weeds from short space along the roads
it seems to be that in some cases the
be cut
Naturally, the only people interested
in this will be those who know what it
is to Sneeze so times minute and never
draw breath of air for two months
after pollen time But lest they be
too SNUG, never had it until the severe
year of "A. Others may get it in
severe year such as last, so 1 vote we do
something.
L sincerely hope you can make an
appeal for the alley weeds at least to
be cut for as most hay fever sufferers
/ am watching the calendar with a sad
eye, looking for the day when that first
head-topping sneeze tells me I'll be liv-
ing in hopes of frost
I realize that the pollen is in the
air and that the little pollen grain that
causes ones particular case could come
from plant mile or so away, but 1t
still is fact that the pollen will be
denser in your vicinity if the weeds re-
main uncut and If as you walk or ride
the wind blows right over a seedy plant
into your nose
I'VE certainly do enjoy your column.
Very sincerely yours, B. b.
1t is probable that most hay fever
tendencies are inherited, so that sensi-
tivenesS to certain irritating substances
runs In the family. as the phrase has it.
In the spring, pollens from the birch,
hickory, elm, maple and oak cause the
trouble.
In the summer, orchard and June
grass are responsible.
The golden rod and ragweed cause
the bulk of hay fever, however, in late
summer and the fall.
Hay fever can be caused by other sub
stances, such as some drugs; milk, eggs
and buckwheat; rice in face powders;
animal dander from horses, dogs and
cats, and chicken and goose feathers.
Our correspondent says that "prac-
tically nothing can be done for this
distressing malady."
Certainly the injection method should
be tried. Scratches are made In the skin
and extracts of various pollens or other
substances put in the scratches. Swell
ing and redness occur shortly if the pa
tent is sensitive.
An extract made from the offending
substance is then injected for about Is
doses, beginning few weeks before the
usual time of attack of hay fever.
These methods often relieve hay fever
symptoms, and in some fortunate cases
prevent them. Too large, injections
cause severe reactions. Nasal disturb
ances may be treated with few drops
of ephedrine sulphate in normal salt
solution. 1t is needless to state that
none Of these measures should be taken
except under the supervision of ply
stefan.
Certainly the cutting of all weeds, ir-
respective of name, is necessity, not
only for hay fever sufferers, but for
civic Righteousness. The fact that many
weeds still remain in what are known as
fashionable residence communities shows
how far short of perfection we still fall.
In the meantime, the birds do the best
they can in keeping down the ragweed
and others. Every seed consumed is
just that much In the great fight.