The weekly ledger., 1857-05-23
The Poison Oak.


acteristic in common with any of the species
of qucrcus; of which there are no fewer than
one hundred and fifty Tue larger generation
Of which this is not one, are difficult of dis
tinction, while the smaller are not properly
defined Oaks, like roses are scarcely known
in a wild state in the Southern hemisphere
They reach their most southern limits as far
as Java; passing upwards, beyond the Equi-
nocta along the eastern parts OF Asia -
They spread to the western along the Him
alayas, and, reaching Europe, only stop at
the Atlantic They find their way, also,
from their Asiatc origin, to this line of east
ern demarkation, then overspread North
America, in abundant variety; from Canada
to California, and through Mexico, down to
the Isthmus of Panama; below which, no
trace of any, in a wild state are seen.
Oaks are generally divided into three
classes, Robord, Hices,, and the Ceres. The
first are the lords of the forest, with large,
long sinuate leaf, and producing long acorns
with capacous capues. The second is an
evergreen with smaller acorns; some species
having small leaves, like the prickly holly and
producing diminutve acorns with almost
globular seeds This species abounds OH the
hills and wales throughout California, and is
familiar to every one; it, however, makes
poor tree in forest compared with the for
mer, and entirely exhausts, in time, the sur
face above its roots, so that little or no vege-
tation is seen under them.
The latter Ceres are very common all
over the southeast of Europe, with exceed
ingly large leaves; some species, have thick
down upon them, and their secdcaps also ore
downey, furry or prickly. New species are
being periodically added to, by botanlst trav-
elers, aud seem to be almost ineXhaustible.-
To none of these species, however, does
the guereus riri, or poison oak bear any re-
semblance; except in its lower leaves. 1t is
somewhat of a creeping plant, although it is
devoid of tendrils, its upper stems bear a
clear resemblance to the dogwood shrub, with
leaves like those of the maple; its flower is
scarcely preceptble to the naked eye, and its
fruit consists of clusters of small, round, pea
Ike berries, of hard consistency, approach
ing veay closely to the aeheHla; its perlcarp
being formed of hard, dry, indehscent skin.
1t rarely attains the height of eight feet and
is not generally very bushy, when it has at
tanned to this size. If il were not Of so
poisonous a nature, it probably would be no.
ticed only by botanists; but its unenviabe
celebrity, on this account, forces itself on the
attention Of every one within its neghbor-
hood. The manner in which it affects differ
ent persons is somewhat remarkable. Peo-
pie Of a sanguininferous and lymphatic tenn
perament, are greatly affected by its contact.
The first symptoms are observable in dull
itching sensation, increasing more and more
as the parts affected are irritated; until the
surface first touched, becomes full of prick
ing sensations. Quick swengs then imme-
diately ensue, until the whole extremity,
whether Of head, hand, or leg becomes infect
/ ed; the appearance then assumes that Of in
candescent dropsy with most people, but
sometimes has a reddish appearance. If the
head becomes affected to any extent the virus
so rapidly gains ground, as soon entirely to
obliterate every trace Of the features
Some persons Of thin spare habits can
handle it with impunity, and even rub the
leaf of it into fresh wound without harm.
Horses and hogs eat it with avidity, and as
far as observation extends, the same may be
said of all gramnverous animals. Its roots
when thrown together, inpregnate the air
with rank odor, somewhat similar to those
OF the hemlock These are succulent at their
extremetics, but woody towards the stem,
where it rises from the sur acs of the rh
When creeping along the ground its young
er leaves are tinged with a dark red color; it
is then that the plant assumes the appearance
Of the first exfoliatons of the common oak,
the r0b0ra SO rancorous does the air of the
neighborhood become, where it is left to
grow in abundance, that whole families have
been known to be affected with its poisonous
influence, at such seasons when the wind
blows in u direction towards them; more es-
pecially of those of temperament before
mentioned 1t is easily rooted up, except it
entanges itself among low shrubs, when it is
rather difficult to edradcate. owing to its
roots connecting several growths, as in all or
binary plants Of the creeping kud. The
three foIms of leaf which it bears are not
peculiar; for many plants, such as the ivy lol
instance, bear different shaped leaves while
remaining on the ground, from those whel
adherng to any erect support.
We have seen person who declares thai
he has frequently swallowed some of its Juice
after mastication, with impunity, but are in
clined to attach little Importance to thi.
knowledge, as, from the time of old Homer
who, in the fourth book of his Had, records
Of Macaon, the sou Of 4Esculapius-
Then, when he saw the wound, where poisond ar
row fell,
Having suckd out the blood applied with art that
remedy
The prudent Chron gave to his beloved father;"
and of Eleanor, the wife of the English king,
Edward l., Who sucked the virus from the