The Present State of our Knowledge of Hay-Fever

Abstract

In 1902 the investigations on hay-fever undertaken by me many years previously were brought to a temporary conclusion and their results published. I advanced the theory that hay-fever is a disease caused by vegetable poisons contained in the pollen of certain plants. These substances were connected with the proteid of the pollen grain and of a highly specific character. It was thus possible to decide by means of the isolated poisonous pollen proteid, whether a given disease is identical with hay-fever or not. In 1903 I asserted more forcibly that it was possible to obtain a specific antidote by inoculating pollen proteid into animals,e.g., rabbits or horses. With such an antidote it would be possible (1) to neutralise the pollen poisonin vitroso that it would no more produce morbid symptoms in hay-fever patients. Further it would be possible (2) by this specific antidote to cure symptoms of the disease already developed. By the timely application of the antidote it would (3) be possible to prevent the onset of hay-fever symptoms.