446 TEE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



latter period, and it is quite exceptional that one individual is afflicted 

 during both periods. 



The first attack usually begins near the age of puberty and then 

 recurs every year with such regularity that patients are able to fore- 

 cast quite accurately the date of their coming illness. The duration of 

 the sickness is approximately six weeks. 



The symptoms are those of a catarrhal condition of the mucous 

 membrane of the eyes, nose, pharynx and often of the trachea and 

 bronchi. After a preliminary period of one to two weeks, during which 

 there is a moderate irritation of the eyes and nose, associated with a 

 slight discharge, the disease may reach its maximum within a few 

 days or even hours. At this time the eyes are reddened and swollen, 

 and tear secretion is abundant; the nasal mucous membranes are 

 swollen and injected, causing a copious, watery discharge. In addition 

 there are violent, explosive fits of sneezing together with an intolerable 

 itching, and later a soreness of the nose and the eyes. Subsequently 

 nasal breathing becomes impossible and mouth breathing is necessary. 

 Then irritation symptoms of the larynx, trachea and bronchi develop as 

 shown by attacks of coughing. The lung symptoms vary between a 

 mild bronchitis and a severe asthma. 



All these symptoms which make life a burden to the hayfever suf- 

 ferer are caused by the inhalation of certain pollens. As early as 1831 

 Elliotson advanced this opinion, and later experimental researches by 

 Blackley and especially by Dunbar placed the theory on a safe footing. 

 Dunbar proved that the albumen fraction of certain pollens was the 

 toxic agent by injecting or instilling this substance in predisposed indi- 

 viduals; under proper conditions the typical symptoms were always 

 obtained. The reaction was specific; thus autumn catarrh patients 

 responded typically to the proteids obtained from ragweed and golden- 

 rod, but showed no effect when the pollen proteid of graminaceous 

 plants was used. 



Hayfever patients therefore have acquired in some fashion or an- 

 other a hypersentiveness to the albumin constituent of certain pollens. 

 When plants bearing these pollens are in bloom, the pollen is distributed 

 by the wind, and when inhaled by susceptible individuals, the typical 

 consequences follow. The specificity of the sensitization explains why 

 some suffer in the spring, when pollen from the flowering grasses is in 

 the air, while others suffer in autumn when golden-rod and ragweed 

 distribute their pollen. 



Dunbar has produced a therapeutic serum by inoculating horses with 

 the chief pollen proteids which come into consideration. This pol- 

 lantin has yielded good results when used prophylactically. 



Drug Idiosyncrasies. — There are numerous individuals who react 

 with more or less severe symptoms to drugs which cause no obvious 

 effects in the large majority of people. Among these drugs morphine, 



