Synonyms.—Hay Fever; Hay Asthma; Summer Catarrh; Rose Catarrh.
Definition.—An affection of the mucous membrane of the eyes,
nose, and upper-air passages, characterized by coryza, laryngeal
irritation, and asthma, and occurring during the summer months,
usually August and September, and disappearing with the first
heavy frost. Etiology.—The predisposing cause is the possession
of a peculiar idiosyncrasy, which is so subtle as to escape
detection. It develops suddenly, occurs each year with almost
mathematical precision, and, once acquired, the habit is seldom
ever lost, but grows more confirmed with each year. The
conditions favoring this peculiar habit are race, temperament,
mode of life, age, sex. education, and heredity. Race.—It is a
little singular, but the English and the Americans are the
principal sufferers from hay fever, it being extremely rare in
Norway, Sweden, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, and Russia, and
when found is generally confined to the English resident. Dr.
Jacobi, of New York, a few yea