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Hay fever in Alabama. I. The flora of Alabama, and II. Analysis of one hundred cases
Selected Abstracts Asthma and Hay Fever UNDER
THE
DIRECTION
OP SAMUEL
FEINBERG,
M.D.,
CHEAGO
On Histamine in Cotton Dust, and in the Blood of Cotton Workers. and MacDonald, A. D.: J. Hyg. 37: 234, 1037. Because tempted to contain an room workers or in cases at least an production
Autogenous J., and
Haworth,
E.,
of the prevalence of asthma among cotton workers, the authors atisolate the etiologic factor. Testing the cotton dust, they found it, to appreciable amount of histamine. The blood histamines in 65 eardwere shown on the average to be higher than in normal controls of chronic bronchitis. The authors suggest that this histamine may be important contributing feature, along with the specific protein, in the of asthma in this industry.
Urinary Bigland,
Proteose in Asthma A. D.:
Brit.
and Other Allergic
Conditions.
Libman,
M. J. 1: 62, 1037.
The authors conclude that the zone of erythema obtained at the site of an intradermal injection of urinary proteose is in no way a specific reaction, but is probably only a local toxic effect. While some patients with asthma obtained benefit from treatment with this proteose, the good results obtained did not exceed those obtained from injections of ordinary peptone solutions. The latter material is more easily obtained and should, therefore, be preferable. In urticxria the results were more encouraging.
Pulmonary
Emphysema.
Ribler,
C. S., and
Watson,
8. H.:
Dis.
of
Chest
2:
S,
1936. Emphysema is often caused ditions. The authors stress the by conditions other than asthma symptoms. The latter complication cide whether the asthma is due result of the prolonged asthma. advise a dry warm climate with in small frequent doses helpful. give relief. Special abdominal by Alexander and Kountz, have
by asthma but may also be caused by other confact that pulmonary emphysema primarily caused may eventually be associated with asthmatic presents a difficulty in diagnosis-i.e., to deto emphysema or whether the emphysema is the In the treatment of emphysema the authors a moderate altitude. They have found ephedrine In severe cases oxygen therapy will frequently belts to elevate the diaphragm, as advocated been of great help.
Hay Fever in Alabama. I. The Flora of Alabama, and II. Analysis of One Hundred Cases. Weil, C. K.: J. Assn. State Alabama 6: 302 and 329, 1937. Weil
divides
the hay fever
plants
of Alabama
into three
groups:
the trees,
grasses, and weeds. The trees, comprising elm, oak, hickory, pecan, and black walnut, begin their season the first of February and cont,inue to the middle of June. The pecan is the most important hay fever tree in this territory. The grass season, which begins in March and terminates in October, is caused by the bluegrass, rye grass, Berfollowing, in the order of sequence of pollination:
511
512
THE
JOURNAL
OF
ALLERGY
muda grass, Johnson grass, fescues, Paspalums, panic grasses, foxtail, sweet grass, gama grass, brome grass, and plume grass. The fall plants, beginning to pollinate about the first of September, are listed as giant and short ragweeds, cocklebur, and marsh elder. Analyzing a series of 100 cases of allergic rhinitis, the author found 30 perennial and 70 seasonal. Of the latter, 17 were spring cases, 14 of which were due to pecan. The 39 fall hay fever cases were almost entirely of ragweed origin. Of 22 summer hay fever cases, only 7 reacted by skin tests to grass pollens. The remainder did not react to any pollen either by cutaneous, intracutaneous, conjunctival, or nasal tests. This latter group failed to react also to a number of mold antigens. The author admits that the cause of these rases is still unknown and should be the subject of further study.
Accurate 498,
Diagnosis
of Hay Fever.
(Xarke,
J.
A.,
Jr.:
Pennsylvania
M.
J. 40:
1937.
Clarke stresses the role of complicating sensitization in pollinosis, for which He believes that the exposure of the patient he has coined the term “synergy.” to a second allergen, which ordinarily causes no clinical allergy by itself, may result in an aggravation of the symptoms. He compares a series of 100 hay fever cases treated between the years 1921 and 1927, when only a few pollen tests were made, with another series of 100 treated in the years 1932 to 1935 when complete allergic studies were employed. In the first series the excellent results were 3 per cent, in the second series 13 per cent. The failures in the first con stitutetl 1.l per cent, in the second series 5 per cent.
Urticaria
With
et syph.
Atrophic
7: 337,
Gastritis.
Chevallier,
Paul Chevallier and Fran$ois Moutier origin is nearly always accompanied by and prescribe 3 gm. iron daily, gradually effect is rapid. Iron should be continued develop. The iron should be supplemented which should be given before each meal.
Studies Osborne,
in Eczematizing 1;. D.:
I’.,
Moutier,
F.:
Ann.
de dermat.
1936.
New
have found that urticaria of digestive localized or diffuse atrophic gastritis, increasing the dose to 6 gm. The for a long time as recurrences maywith hydrochloric acid, small doses of
Properties
of Soaps.
York
J. Med.
State
36:
Jordan, 791,
J. W., l!Ki(i.
Walker,
H.
L.,
and
The authors divided 115 individuals into 3 groups and patch tested with soap dilutions of 1:lOO and 1:400 of different soap solutions. Eight common toilet soaps and two laundry soaps were used. In Group 1 (70 patients with no history of dermatitis or allergic manifestations), only 1 case gave a marked reaction to one or more of the 1 :lOO soap solutions. One other case gave a fairly marked reaction to a test with 1:400 dilution. Reaction to solutions of laundry soap (higher alkali content) were, in general, no more severe. The determining factors appear to be: the concentration of the offending substance, the duration of exposure, and the degree of allergy in the patient’s skin.
THE
DIRECTION
OP SAMUEL
FEINBERG,
M.D.,
CHEAGO
On Histamine in Cotton Dust, and in the Blood of Cotton Workers. and MacDonald, A. D.: J. Hyg. 37: 234, 1037. Because tempted to contain an room workers or in cases at least an production
Autogenous J., and
Haworth,
E.,
of the prevalence of asthma among cotton workers, the authors atisolate the etiologic factor. Testing the cotton dust, they found it, to appreciable amount of histamine. The blood histamines in 65 eardwere shown on the average to be higher than in normal controls of chronic bronchitis. The authors suggest that this histamine may be important contributing feature, along with the specific protein, in the of asthma in this industry.
Urinary Bigland,
Proteose in Asthma A. D.:
Brit.
and Other Allergic
Conditions.
Libman,
M. J. 1: 62, 1037.
The authors conclude that the zone of erythema obtained at the site of an intradermal injection of urinary proteose is in no way a specific reaction, but is probably only a local toxic effect. While some patients with asthma obtained benefit from treatment with this proteose, the good results obtained did not exceed those obtained from injections of ordinary peptone solutions. The latter material is more easily obtained and should, therefore, be preferable. In urticxria the results were more encouraging.
Pulmonary
Emphysema.
Ribler,
C. S., and
Watson,
8. H.:
Dis.
of
Chest
2:
S,
1936. Emphysema is often caused ditions. The authors stress the by conditions other than asthma symptoms. The latter complication cide whether the asthma is due result of the prolonged asthma. advise a dry warm climate with in small frequent doses helpful. give relief. Special abdominal by Alexander and Kountz, have
by asthma but may also be caused by other confact that pulmonary emphysema primarily caused may eventually be associated with asthmatic presents a difficulty in diagnosis-i.e., to deto emphysema or whether the emphysema is the In the treatment of emphysema the authors a moderate altitude. They have found ephedrine In severe cases oxygen therapy will frequently belts to elevate the diaphragm, as advocated been of great help.
Hay Fever in Alabama. I. The Flora of Alabama, and II. Analysis of One Hundred Cases. Weil, C. K.: J. Assn. State Alabama 6: 302 and 329, 1937. Weil
divides
the hay fever
plants
of Alabama
into three
groups:
the trees,
grasses, and weeds. The trees, comprising elm, oak, hickory, pecan, and black walnut, begin their season the first of February and cont,inue to the middle of June. The pecan is the most important hay fever tree in this territory. The grass season, which begins in March and terminates in October, is caused by the bluegrass, rye grass, Berfollowing, in the order of sequence of pollination:
511
512
THE
JOURNAL
OF
ALLERGY
muda grass, Johnson grass, fescues, Paspalums, panic grasses, foxtail, sweet grass, gama grass, brome grass, and plume grass. The fall plants, beginning to pollinate about the first of September, are listed as giant and short ragweeds, cocklebur, and marsh elder. Analyzing a series of 100 cases of allergic rhinitis, the author found 30 perennial and 70 seasonal. Of the latter, 17 were spring cases, 14 of which were due to pecan. The 39 fall hay fever cases were almost entirely of ragweed origin. Of 22 summer hay fever cases, only 7 reacted by skin tests to grass pollens. The remainder did not react to any pollen either by cutaneous, intracutaneous, conjunctival, or nasal tests. This latter group failed to react also to a number of mold antigens. The author admits that the cause of these rases is still unknown and should be the subject of further study.
Accurate 498,
Diagnosis
of Hay Fever.
(Xarke,
J.
A.,
Jr.:
Pennsylvania
M.
J. 40:
1937.
Clarke stresses the role of complicating sensitization in pollinosis, for which He believes that the exposure of the patient he has coined the term “synergy.” to a second allergen, which ordinarily causes no clinical allergy by itself, may result in an aggravation of the symptoms. He compares a series of 100 hay fever cases treated between the years 1921 and 1927, when only a few pollen tests were made, with another series of 100 treated in the years 1932 to 1935 when complete allergic studies were employed. In the first series the excellent results were 3 per cent, in the second series 13 per cent. The failures in the first con stitutetl 1.l per cent, in the second series 5 per cent.
Urticaria
With
et syph.
Atrophic
7: 337,
Gastritis.
Chevallier,
Paul Chevallier and Fran$ois Moutier origin is nearly always accompanied by and prescribe 3 gm. iron daily, gradually effect is rapid. Iron should be continued develop. The iron should be supplemented which should be given before each meal.
Studies Osborne,
in Eczematizing 1;. D.:
I’.,
Moutier,
F.:
Ann.
de dermat.
1936.
New
have found that urticaria of digestive localized or diffuse atrophic gastritis, increasing the dose to 6 gm. The for a long time as recurrences maywith hydrochloric acid, small doses of
Properties
of Soaps.
York
J. Med.
State
36:
Jordan, 791,
J. W., l!Ki(i.
Walker,
H.
L.,
and
The authors divided 115 individuals into 3 groups and patch tested with soap dilutions of 1:lOO and 1:400 of different soap solutions. Eight common toilet soaps and two laundry soaps were used. In Group 1 (70 patients with no history of dermatitis or allergic manifestations), only 1 case gave a marked reaction to one or more of the 1 :lOO soap solutions. One other case gave a fairly marked reaction to a test with 1:400 dilution. Reaction to solutions of laundry soap (higher alkali content) were, in general, no more severe. The determining factors appear to be: the concentration of the offending substance, the duration of exposure, and the degree of allergy in the patient’s skin.