The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-08-08

Poisonous Plants.
Prof. Wilson Flagg observes that 1t
Is important that all who rambie in the
woods should be able to identify the
poisonous plants, not only that they
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 purposes
may be handled with perfect safety. !
am not aware, ON the other hand, that
any bad effects come from the internal
use of the ,uices of either of the two
poison sumachs which cause q violent
Inflammation when handled by certain
D .ople. If remember correctly, Kahn,
the Swedish botanist, tried variety of
experiments with the poison dogwood.
He rubbed its leaves on his face and
hands and drank adecoction..o Gifts leaves.
All this was done with IMMUNITY. If l
am incorrect in this statement would
thank any reader who has correct
knowledge of the facts to set me right.
i have no means of examining the
source of my information The infiam-
nation caused 10y the poison ivy and
the poison dogwood resembles erysipe-
las but it Is not dangerous. 1t yields
gradually to 8 wash Of . weak solution
of sugar of lead There is popular
belief that if one has suffered an attack
from it he is rendered more liable to be
affected by any future exposure to the
baneful influence Of the plant. l 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 L
have known persons who were badly
poisoned in their early days who could.
after becoming adults, handle the plant
with impunity. An intelligent farmer,
who had such experience in his own
case, believed that sny one who is sub
ject to ivy or dogwood poison might
counteract 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 o. occasionally chewing the
ends of pine twig is preventative.
The chewing of the tender sprouts of
the common pear tree is also 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. DIR. 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-
ficiency of taste or smell. though he
admits that the poisonous vegetables
for the most part have decidedly
nauseous and dIsagreeable flavor.
OPIUM is bitter and tobacco is pungent
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
laoor or for recreation. to learn how to
determine upon their own safety. Now,
with regard to the poison dogwood, l
may say that is not to be found in every
wood, though not a rare plant. 1t is
an elegant shrub, seldom tree. but
appearing in clumps, lie the common
alder. The leaf is pinnate, resembling
that of the American ash, but larger,
and having a greater number of broad,
ovate leaflets. As i have sa d in an
other essay, this tree is equalled by no
other species in our woods for the
splendor and variety of its autumnal
tints. There is more exposure to the
poison ivy. because it grows every
where. There is haldly 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 ereeper in Its general
aspect and climbing habits, and the
two plants may be distinguished by
their leaves. The leaf of each plant is
compound, but the ivy bears only three
leaflets, while the creeper has five in a
whorl: hence, when one is at
q loss to determine the identity
of the plant he must count
its leaflets. Neither of the two poison
sumachs hears conspicuous flower or
lEulls NE uONcrS duu Ii IL art pEccu-
ish, small and without any beauty. If
one is doubtful, therefore, about the
identity of plant, he may be sure, if it
bears a handsome flower or fruit, it is
neither the poison ivy nor the dogwood.
As there is no other plant in our woods.
however, poisonous as 8 drug, that
NAV not be safely handled, the rule
given above may insure anyone's
safety.
In conclusion Iwould remark that 1
cannot regard the poison ivy as very
dangerous plant; if it were more so,
We should hear of more frequent in
stances of its poisonous effects. As it
grows almost everywhere, it is hardly
possible for parties to spend half 3
day in the woods without frequently
handling it. Some caution is, never-
theless advisable. If / had an estate
with trees near my house which were
covered with this beautiful climber, l
should not remove it. l should con-
slider how extremely small is the lia-
bilty of anyone to be affected by it,
and that his exposure would he greater
in crossing almost any rude pasture
that contained any shru berry than by
visiting my grounds.-BoSto" Glo6e.
PhysiolOgv NJ DiyeSfiOn In Ruminants.