Diverticulum and Sarcoma of the Duodenum

Abstract

Air pollution by ragweed pollen is a menace to public health. Should not its destruction become a proper function of the state health bureau?Would not each householder or tenant destroy his own weeds rather than have the health board direct public attention to the nuisance? Destruction is advised prior to August 1. If neglected, should not health officers be empowered as with other health nuisances to destroy such pests at the expense of the owner ? A sentiment can be built up which would make the public ragweed-conscious, and which would discredit neglect in its destruction. SUMMARYOwing to the geographical position of the state, with its more or less protective boundaries against ragweed, Maine should be a good proving-ground for a concerted campaign of eradication. A pollen survey was first necessary. Beginning August 8, 1937, slides were exposed for each of fifty days at nine authorized receiving stations in cities, farming towns, mountains and seashore, and were carefully counted. Maps, graphs, and tabulations accompany the text. Air currents as distributing agents were studied. Weather bureaus and forest wardens contributed to the success of the survey in furnishing data of storms, wind directions and velocities. A low ragweed count was found in nearly the whole state, a negligible amount in agricultural Aroostook County; the highest count, comparable with that of neighboring states, was in the southwest corner, which does not have any mountain-forest barrier.Ragweed pollinosis is rated as an air-pollution problem for boards of health. An appeal is made for intelligent state-wide co-operation in eradication.