Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-07-09
Poisonous Plants.

adiuncts OF rural life. These are all very
| well In their way, but they have some
very disagreeable aecompaniments
Snakes, toads, wasps, hornets, ants, ticks,
beetles and such like inhabitants of the
leafy woods" are TO most persons great
drawbacks to the enjoyments Of ruraliz-
ing. These annoyances, however, are
only .aamentary, and are as nothing
when compared with the disagreeabie
and dangerous effects produced by some
poisonous plants and shrubs.
We should like to give descriptions Of
some of the more common plants OF this
class, but AZ the botanical descriptions,
which are the only correct and precise
ones, would not be generally understood
by large majority OF our readers, and
any attempt TO give common or popular
descriptions might mislead, and perhaps
lead to bad or injurious consequences, we
refrain as much as possible from attempt
ing either, simply noting the common
names of most OF them as they are known
in various parts of the country, and adj
yising our friends never to taste or eat
any root, leaves or berries of any wild
plants that are not well and definitely
known to them to be innoxious For want
ofcaution in this respect we every summer
see accounts in the newspapers of serious
consequences, sometimes resulting in
death to the imprudent
Of our native poisonous plants one of
the most annoying and unpleasant in its
effects is the Rhus t0rtc0dendr0n, various
ly known as poison-yine, poison-ivy and
poson-oak, although ii is not related 10
either the ivy or oak families. There are
two varieties of this plant, one growing
Iulf tttn tn y.
feet high, and the other growing as "A
vine from eight to thirty feet high, cling.
ing by small rootlets To trees, fences, and
such like objects. When growing as
vine 1t IL the II. rodicsas of some bota-
nists. In both varieties the leaves are
compound, being divided into small leaf
lets, as i'm the pea or wistaria; in this
species there are three leaflets toothed
or lobed in various ways on the edges,
and somewhat downy on the under side.
Those of the erect variety are from six TO
eight inches long; those of the climbing
variety are from one-half TO two-thirds
that length.
This plant should not be COMPOUNDED
as it sometimes is with the ampelopsis,
or Virginia creeper, or American ivy,
which has large digitate leaves, that Is,
five leaflets growing finger-like from the
apex of the footstalk.
Another species of poisonous rhus is
II. Uenennta, or poison sumac, also known
as poison elder and swamp dogwood, al
though il in no respect resembles either
dogwood or an elder II grows as a
shrub or small tree from ten to eighteen
feet high, and generally inhabits swampy
or moist places. The foliage is light
green; the leaves have from seven TO
thirteen leaflets and resemble those of
the ailan1us, only on smaller scale.
TO most persons the handling of the
poison vine causes swelling of the face
and vascular inflammation of the skin,
especially at the joints and between the
fingers, accompanied by very irritating
and painful itching, which continues for
two or three weeks The poisoning
power Of the plant appears to be very
much intensified by moisture as when
the dew is on il, or when the leaves are
wet with rain. Persons who, when the
leaves are dry, can handle the plant with
comparative impunity are quite sus-
ccptible to the poison when the leaves
are moist We have known persons
poisoned by it through having the smoke
of the burning stems attached TO fire.
wood come in contact with the face.
Sometimes, though rarely, the poisonous
effects are shown by an irritation of the
stomach and bowels, accompanied with
apthous sore mouth and general de
rangcment of the system. AT one time
IL was supposed that IL would produce
salvation, and was used for that purpose
by the so-called botanic physicians;
hence former name for the plant was
mercury-vine. That 1t has a direct ac-
H.. al 4,
experience, having felt the internal ef-
fects of the poison.
The best remedy to relieve the swelling
is n solution of sugar OF lead in water,
applied as lotion to the parts affected;
permanganate of potash is also used for
the same purpose. To relieve the itching
and vascular inflammation rye -four
toasted over the fire in pan clean of
grease until of the color of roasted
coffee, and busted Jon the affected parts,
il very useful remedy. In no case
should any greasy or oily ointment or
application be made, as II only agra
Yates the symptoms. A cooling aperient
drink taken occasionally is of great assist
lance. Homeopathic physicians pre-
scribe "rhus," and in internal poisoning
we have found relief from it.
The poison sumac is even more poison
Gus than the poison-vine, as we have
known persons poisoned by the cxhala-
tons from its leaves blowing upon them,
without their coming in contact with the
plant at all The same remedies or pal
liatives are to be used for il as for the
other species.
What is known among botanists as the
family of UDsbellitera, or the parsley
family, contains large number of dam
gerously poisonous plants. In this order
or family are included the carrot, pars-
nip, parsley, celery, and few others of
our cultivated vegetables and herbs.
These in their cultivated state have no
noxious qualities, but in their wild state
are, TO say the least, suspicious. The
whole family have strongl y.marked re.
semblance, making the order one of the
most natural and distinct of any Of the
orders or families Instituted by botanists
A reference TO the plants named will
give n more distinct idea of the general
appearance of the plants composing the
order. than any popular description
would do.
Among the native gehera growing In
woods and fields which are especially TO
he ayoida1 40 articles of dint o,J -,