The usefulness of nasal symptoms in hay fever

312

THE

JO'URNXL

OF ALLERGY

chiefly as to time: (1) the immediate reaetioi~-reddelImg, wheal formation, usually disappearing after one how ; (2) the late reactioIl--reddening and moderate tissue infiltration, reaching its lnaxilliurll oni> after twenty-four hours and usually persisting several days. ROih Exreactions can be considered as different degrees of sensitization. periments showed that, when a normal child is sensitized with small doses, parenterally, at daily intervals, the following stages of skill reactions are observed in this order: intracutaneous late reaction, intracutaneous immediate reaction plus late reaction, and then intracutaneous immediate reaction and no late reaction. /Late reaction := taberculin type reaction.]

Otolaryngology UNDER,

THE

DIRE'CTIOS

OF

FRENCH

K.

HA4~s2~,

N.D.;

ST.

LOUIS

rrence of Eosinophiles in the and the Tonsils. KaMs, P. : Kall6s made a study of 125 cases of nasal and tonsil!ar diseases in which the secretions were examined for eosinophiles. Iii the nasal cases, consisting of vasomotor rhinitis and nasal polyps, eosinophiles were found to be present in the secretions from 10 to 50 per cent,. An :osinophilia was also demonstrated in secretions expressed from the tonsils in rheumatic patients. Definite eosinophilia was also demonstrated in the tonsils upon histologic examination. Similar studies in nonrheumatic patients reyealed no eosinophilia. Kallb suggests a possible association between the tonsils and rheuma,tism on the basis of the local eosinophilia. These findings also suggest, perhaps, the allergic basis of rheumatism.

sefulness of Nasal Symptoms and de Graaf, a.:

Acta oto-laryng.

in Hay Fever.

Rei~jamins,

“cr. li:.,

20: 165, 1934.

In a study of the nature of the local nasal reaction concerned in hay fever, Benjamins and de Graaf carried out a series of experiments. They concerned a comparative examination of the sensitivity of the skin, the nasal mucosa, and the conjunetiva to the active substance of pollen. The problem also concerned the inrrestigation of the absorption of the active substance by the nasal mucosa and also the quantity of pollen likely to be found in the nose during the period of pollinat,iol~ of grasses. As a result of the experiments, it was shown that the slrin is genera.lly much more sensitive to the active principle of pollen l-harr i;ile nasal mucosa, but the absorption of the n.ctive substance by the

ABSTRACTS

313

nasal mucosa can take place sufficiently to provoke general symptoms. It was also found that by using an artificial nose the quantity of pollen collected during the grass season is sufficient to produce general reactions upon absorption. It was concluded that the defensive reaction of the nasal mucosa, however, prevents the alarming symptoms that might occur from absorption of pollen. It was noted that the nasal mucosa in hay fever patients would react in the presence of 35 grains of pollen. In more sensitive cases, reactions occurred from a lesser number. The rhinorrhea and sneezing, therefore, are considered as playing an important part in the defense mechanism by eliminating excessive contact with pollen. It was finally concluded that the nasal symptoms of hay fever, altholagh uncomfortable to the patient, serve a useful purpose and are indispensable. chemical and Physicochemical Examinations of Polyps in Cases of Nasal Disease and Asthma. Griebel, C. R. : Arch. f. Ohren-, Nasenu. Kehlkopfh. 138: 178, 1934. In 387 asthmatic patients examined by Griebel, it was found that 293 presealted evidence of the allergic form of the disease. The pathologic conditions in the nose varied from the presence of simple serous fluid to marked polyposis. Chronic suppuration was found in 176 of 293 patients. This incidence of chronic suppuration is much higher than that noted by other observers. Physicochemical examinations made of nasal polyps revealed a relatively high mineral content and a hydrogen ion concentration of from 7.52 to 8.3. It was concluded that albumin plays a decisive part as the hydrophilic colloid in the development of polyps.

The Treatment of Chronic Sinus Infection With Undenatured terial Antigens. Kracaw, F. C. : Laryngoscope 46: 26, 1936.

Bac-

In the more recent rhinologic literature, a number of reports have been presented on the local immunization of the nasal mucosa with varying results. Kracaw suggests that failures resulting from vaccine treatment are the result of the alterations of the bacterial antigenic complexes in the process of preparation of the vaccines. His observations were based upon the principles of vaccine preparation previously reported by Krueger by which the major antigenic substances of the bacteria are preserved in such a way as to prevent deterioration. The technic of preparing these bacterial antigens was outlined. Kracaw suggested the use of local and also general immunization in cases of allergic rhinitis of probable bacterial origin. He also advocated their use in chronic ethmoiditis, chronic sphenoiditis, and also in cases of chronic infection of the froaital sinuses,