The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-09-08
Poisonous Plants.

Prot. Wilson Flagg observes that il
Is important that all who ramble in the
woods should be able to identify the
poisonous plants, not only that thew
may avoid them, but that they may feel
secure when such plants are near them.
some OF the most dangerous plants
which are used for medicinal purnoses
may be handled with perfect safety Il
AIN not aware, on the other hand. th at
any bad effects come from the internal
use OF the juices of either of the two
poison sumachs which cause violent
Inflammation when handled by certain
people. II | remember correctly, Kahn.
the swedish botanist, tried a variety of
experiments with the poison dogwood.
lie rubbed its leaves on his face and
hands and drank adecoction'ofitsl leaves.
All this was done with impunity. If II
am incorrect in this statement would
thank any reader who has correct
knowledge of the facts to set me flcht.
nave no means of examining the
source of my information. The int1am-
nation caused lby the poison ivy and
the poison dogwood resembles erysipe
las; but 1t is not dangerous. 1t yields
gradually to wash of weak solution
OF sugar of lead. There is a popular
belief that If one has suffered an attack
from 1t he Is rendered more liable to be
affected by any future exposure to the
Dane1ul influence of the plant. | have
reason to believe this to be an error
some persons are very susceptible
OF the poison, while others are
not affected by it at all. But |
nave known persons who were badly
poisoned in their early days who could,
after becoming adults, handle the plant
with lmpunity. An intelligent farmer,
who had sach experience in his own
case believed that any one who is SUBJ
leet to ivy or dogwoOd poison might
counterfeit his susceptibility by fire.
quently handling it. He cited his own
experience as proof OF his theory. An
other theory is that the woods are full
OF antidotes to the effects of ivy and
dogwood. and that the habit of many
persons OF occasionally chewing the
ends OF a pine twig is preventative.
The chewing of the tender sprouts of
the common pear tree is also a safe
guard. l mention these notions with
out protesting any belief in them, but
they may be correct. If they seem in
significant remedies, because these
plants have no powerful medicinal
qualities, we must consider that the
Two noXious sumachs do not manifest
properties of taste or smell that
would lead us to suspect their poison
Gus nature. Dr. Bush remarks, in one
OF his medical essays, that it is not safe
to declare that any plant is wanting in
medicinal virtue on account of its de-
hciency of taste or smell, though he
admits that the poisonous vegetables
for the most part have a decidedly
nauseous end dlsagreeable flavor.
Opium is bitter and tobacco is pungcnt
and nauseous.
But As these properties of poisonous
plants do not exist in all species which
are poisonous, it is prudent for all per-
sons who frequent the woods, either for
LABOR or for recreation, to learn how to
determine upon their own safety. Now,
with regard to the poison dOgwood, |
may say that is not to be found in every
@sod. though not rare plant. 1t is
an elegant shrub, seldom tree, but
appearing in clumps, Ike the common
alder. The leaf is pinnate, resembling
that of the American ash, but larger
and having greater number of broad,
Dvate leaflets. As | have said in an
other essay, this tree is equalled by no
other species in our woods for the
splendor and variety of its autumnal
t .ints. There is more exposure to the
poison ivy, because it grows every
where. There is hardly a wood or
woody pasture in the lowlands that is
not covered with it, and hardly an old
stone wall that is not festOoned with its
elegant foliage This climber resem-
! bles the Virginia creeper i'll It's general
( aspect and climbing habits, and the
a TWO plants may be distinguished by
their leaves. The leaf of each plant is
e compound, but the ivy bears only three
leaflets, while the creeper has five in a
whorl; hence, when one is at
loss to determine the identity
Of the plant he must count
its leaflets. Neither of the two poison
Sumachs hears conspicuous flower or
fruit, The flowers and frdit are green
:sh, small and without any beauty If
one is doubtful, therefore, about the
y identity of plant, he maybe sure, if ii
bears a handsome flower or fruit, it is
+ neither the poison ivy nor the dogwood.
: As there is no otherplant in our woods,
II however, poisonous as q drug. that
NAV not be safely handled, the rule
given above may insure anyone
safety
In conclusion would remark that
cannot regard the poison ivy as very
dangerous plant; if it were more so,
:. we should hear of more frequent in
n stances of its poisonous effects. As il
grows almost everywhere, it is hardly
possible for parties to spend half
lay in the woods without frequently
handling it. Some caution is, never
lheless advisable. If | had an estate
with trees near my house which wert
covered with this beautiful climber,
should not remove it. | should con
slider how extremely small is the liza
bilitv of anyone to be affected by 1t
% and that his exposure would he create
d in crossing almost any rude pasture
IS that contained any shrubbery than b.
visiting my grounds. Boston G!obe,