176 THE PATHOLOGY OF POLLEN IN ^STIVIS, 



We have now noticed three points which are pertinent to the 

 discussion, as will appear, namely : the minuteness of these 

 pollen-grains, their spiny armature, and the naked grooving at the 

 surface. 



I. — The first effect noticeable of pollen then is due to its 

 presence in the air as an impurity. The granules are taken in at 

 breathing, as a foreign element. Except that it is more pungent, 

 their action is in common with that of other impurities— namely, 

 suffocating. " Advanced Hay-Fever is always more or less 

 asthmatic, and impurities in the air will cause spasms, and in some 

 instances even the odour of domestic animals will bring this 

 about. 



2. — But pollen, taken into the respiratory tubes, is a mechanical 

 irritant. In severe Hay-Fever all the air passages are in a state of 

 inflammation. The starting spot is in the vicinity of the nares. At 

 first the patient does not dislike the tickling of the pungent grains 

 of titillating dust. But it very soon becomes serious, and nature 

 summons all the sternutatory forces to eject the intruders. So 

 violent does this sternutation become, and so long continuous, 

 that the blood is started from the nostrils. The mucous mem- 

 brane of the nose and the immediate air-passages become super- 

 sensitive. In fact, the entire mucous surface is soon in a scalded 

 state, and every nerve-ending is a participant of torture. Suppose 

 a person's back to be in that state of eczema, in which inflammation 

 has reached suppuration, and a thistle-bur to be put down the 

 back. The rest may be left to imagination. Now suppose that 

 a number of grains of pollen of Rag-weed, or Golden-rod, with 

 which the air is laden, to be inhaled, when the whole nasal region 

 and the ducts beyond are scalded with the incessant discharge of 

 acrid secretions. Is not ea jh one of these infinitesimal teasels a 

 lacerator of the tender and inflamed membrane } Hence, when 

 these enter in myriads, what a combination for exquisite torture ! 

 I have been caught in a place where Rag-weed pollen was 

 prevalent in the air, and have been seized with sudden spasms, so 

 violent that I have had to cling to a fence for support under 

 suffering that was inexpressible. 



3. — Besides being a mechanical irritant because of the spines, 

 I am persuaded that pollen has a toxic quality in Hay-Fever. In 



