Allergy History: Dr. Clemens von Pirquet

Ever wondered where the word allergy comes from? In 1906, Austrian Pediatrician Clemens von Pirquet first used the word allergy to describe the strange, non-disease related symptoms that some diphtheria patients developed when treated with a horse serum antitoxin. The word comes from the Greek word 'alol', meaning, 'change in the original state'. And aptly, an allergic reaction is the result of the body's change when it adversely responds to a harmless substance. Pirquet is also the father of the modern tuberculosis test, which is named after him.

Source: Encyclopedia Brittanica Online

Posted by Anna on Monday, February 06, 2006

Leave a Comment | Read Comments (0) | Email This | digg it

No Comments

Leave a Comment

Register
Forgot your password?
UserName (required)
Password (required)
Comments
  Notify me of updates
 

Allergy Relief

 Subscribe in a reader

Email this allergy blog to a friend. Email to a Friend

Seed Newsvine



Archives

December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

Categories

General
Allergy tips
News
achoo! news
Achoo Q & A
Misc
Product Reviews

Search

Allergy Links

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Indoor Air Quality links

EPA's IAQ Reports
IAQ Information from the American Lung Association

Healthy Home links

University of Wisconsin: Healthy Home tool
The Lung Association: Healthy Home tool
 

This blog is maintained by achoo! ALLERGY & AIR Products, a leading retailer of allergy relief products including air purifiers, allergy bedding, and HEPA vacuum cleaners.
 

Privacy Policy | About Us | Customer Service | Allergy Relief Products