Evening star., 1947-08-15
Stars, Men and Atoms
Rogweed Pollen Survey
On Throughout Country
Physicians Hope to Determine Value
Of Treatment Methods
By Thomas r. Henry


The annual ragweed pollen survey conducted
by the American Academy of Allergy through
local medical societies now is in progress
throughout the country.
This weed of vacant lots and roadsides is
recognized as the chief cause Of hay fever.
Daily counts of the number OF pollen grains per
cubic yard of atmosphere are carried on
through the season by Weather Bureau OBJ
servatories and agents appointed by the medical
groups.
The major purpose is to determine the
value of different methods of treatment ana
of desensitization techniques. concerning which
few valid conclusions can be reached without
knowing the amounts of pollen to which VIC
Tins have been exposed.
Sensitiveness Varies.
Ragweed-sensitive persons vary considerably
in their reaction to any given pollen concen-
tration Some start sneezing when there is
only one grain per cubic yard of air. A few
are resistant to as many as 10 grains in the
same air volume.
That a patient is "more comfortable this
year than last has little significance if there
is appreciably less of nearly microscopic rag
weed dust An outstanding example of failure
to take the amount of concentration into con-
sideration occurred few years ago when doses
OF vitamin were introduced in hay fever
treatment. This started with low doses at the
start OF the ragweed season and these were in
creased from week to week. Larger doses
seemed to be more effective--an entirely
erroneous conclusion because OF the changing
amounts of pollen in the air
Recently several new remedies have been
proposed Testing of such remedy in a city
where the concentration is particularly high
may not confirm favorable results obtained in
some other city. There is great variation
from one part of the country to another. Also
concentrations vary greatly from year to year.
Throughout most OF the northeast the amount
OF pollen has been relatively low during the
past few years. 1t should show considerable
decline this year because of the use for the
first time of one of the weed-kllers developed
by the Chemical Warfare Service duringg the
war. The specific effect of this on ragweed is
unknown.
Daily Count Helps Doctor.
The daily count which in Washington will
continue for month from August Is to Sep
tember is, is of considerable help to practicing
physicians. If patients reactions go up and
down with the pollen concentration if will be
correct. Otherwise it can be assumed that
person is being unduly exposed to the pollen
perhaps by walking several times day through
a ragweed patch, or that the trouble had some
other cause.
An important purpose is to make possible
comparison between different parts of the
country. From such data can be constructed
a pollen map for the guide of vacationists.
1t is well known that the Pacific Coast and
parts of the Adrondacks are relatively free
of the pollen. Other regions may be found
with even lower concentrations.
Sometimes the yellow dust is carried by the
winds to great distances. Some known to
have come from Alaska has been found in the
States of Washington and Oregon. The aver
age distance Travelled is from 80 to so miles.
The relative Importance of pollen carried from
distance in local concentrations however. is
almost completely unknown.