Immunological studies on ragweed allergy.

• Main Author: Delorme, Joseph. A.
• Other Authors: Rose, B. (Supervisor)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 1962
• Subjects: Experimental Medicine.
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=113614

The word "allergy" was first used by Von Pirquet (1) to describe "changed or altered reactivity" to various agents and included immunity as well as hypersensitivity. To-day, however, it is used most often as a synonym of hypersensitivity. (2) and is defined by Sherman and Kessler (3) as "a general term to include all of the phenomena of specific sensitization believed to be mediated by an antigen-antibody mechanism. Certain clinical forms of allergy, like hay fever and asthma, seem to be determined partly by hereditary influences and for these Coca and Cooke (10) in 1923, proposed the word "atopy" (from the Greek meaning out of place, strange) and the word “atopens” to describe the antigens able to produce such diseases.