OCR Text |
Show Spring Is Time to Start Hayfever Treatment Probably two people In each hundred hun-dred have hay fever. If you are one of the two bear in mind that the spring of the year is the time to begin medical treatment Hay fever is due to inhaling an Irritating pollen. The symptoms are sneezing, blocking of the nostrils nos-trils due to the swollen mucous membrane, watery discharge, itching itch-ing of the eyes and sometimes the roof of the mouth, slight degree of fever, difficult breathing, depressed spirits and a general feeling that the worst is yet to come. Such symptoms coming year after year can be nothing but hay fever. As evidence against the pollen It Is noted not-ed that relief is always obtained when the supply of pollen is for any reason diminished. A continued rain often gives relief, a change In wind may do so, and many sufferers suffer-ers insist that running away on the train for a hundred miles or so is a sure cure. Years ago it was supposed that the irritation came from the hay harvest thus the name hay fever. Then the relationship to pollen was discovered and because the golden-rod golden-rod stands out a bright and shining mark it was promptly made to bear the blame. But Investigation shows that the pollen of golden-rod Is not abundant and is dislodged with difficulty. Finally the botanical detectives de-tectives turned to the ragweed, with its insignificant green flowers, and discovered that its pollen is not only wind-borne but is produced lr. such abundance that a slight blow will discharge it in clouds, and it Is so light that the wind will easil carry it a great distance. Ragweed is responsible for perhaps per-haps four cases in every five of the common variety of hay fever that autumn brings Bear in mind that there is also a ery annoying pollen infection that attacks in the spring. Grasses, weeds and certain trees are responsible, and so common are the sources of attack that escape by flight is difficult. Specialists in treating hay fever are to be found in every large city. Their plan of treatment is to test the sensitiveness of the patient to various pollens, until the right one is discovered, and then give treatment treat-ment to produce immunity to tha' particular pollen, a system of vaccination. |