'^Serobiological  methods  have  shown
the  phylogenetic  relationship  of  the  dif-
ferent plant-orders  and  -families.  The  ap-
plication of  these  discoveries  to  the  treat-
ment of  hay-fever  by  injection  of  plant
proteids  promises  to  assist  in  the  selec-
tion of  the  specific  material  required  for
a  given  case.  Definite  reactions  are
elicited  in  hay-fever  by  the  pollen  of  the
exciting  plant  when  brought  into  contact
with  an  abrasion  of  the  skin.  The  in-
tensity of  these  manifestations  may  be
sensibly  diminished  by  the  repeated  pa-
renteral administration  of  the  proteids  in
question.  Coincident  with  the  diminution
in  the  skin  reactions,  there  seems  to  occur
an  increased  tolerance  of  the  exposed
mucous  membrane  to  the  pollens  of  the
plants  employed.    Pollen  therapy  in  hayr

[288  1


FOEMS  OF  TREATMENT

fever  may  be  regarded  at  the  present
time  as  a  promising  method  of  treatment,
but  its  value  and  the  permanence  of  its
results  remain  still  to  be  definitely  es-
tablished.'^

To  secure  reasonable  success  it  is  im-
portant that  hay-fever  patients  should  be-
gin their  treatment  at  least  three  or  four
weeks  before  the  onset  of  the  attack  by
the  use  of  sedative  solutions;  a  strict
cleansing  treatment  being  applied  daily,
if  possible,  to  the  nasal  membrane  to  in-
hibit the  reflex.  This  local  treatment
should  continue  for  several  weeks.  Many
patients  are  relieved  with  the  use  of  a
weak  solution  of  suprarenal,  1  :  10,000  in
normal  salt. '  Again,  the  antiseptic  al-
kaline solution,  with  an  equal  quantity  of
water,  usually  is  sufficient;  many  are
made  better  by  the  use  of  a  weak  Dobell's
solution,  and  this  is  my  choice  of  a  solu-

[289]


HAY-FEVER

tion.  The  frequency  of  a  reaction  causing
congestion  has  rendered  an  otherwise
valuable  remedy  undesirable.  I  therefore
have  better  results  with  mild  alkaline
solutions  of  DobelPs,  or  the  liquor  anti-
septicus  alkalinicus.  Again,  many  cases
do  well  on  an  ointment  of  suprarenal  in
white  vaseline.  A  small  quantity  placed
in  the  nose  will  last  longer  and  be  more
agreeable  than  the  solution.  In  asthmatic
patients  the  adrenalin  chlorid  in  oil,  used  as
a  spray,  is  quite  effective  in  selected  cases.
