Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-20
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The effects ON the skin and the system
OF poison ivy, or other similar plants.
may be dealt with in a variety Of ways.
Remedies are numerous. but each case
will require Its own treatment, and gen.
eral directions for using them cannot al
ways be followed The great majority
of people are not susceptible to the ef-
fects OF either poison ivy or the more
noxiOus poison sumach. OF the minority
who are effected. all are not equally sen-
sitive to the influence nor liable at all
times to succumb to 1t. In some cases
the poisoning Is SO violent that the entire
body Is swollen and the patient can
hardly move, while others who are poll
soned escape with d slight redness and
itching of the skin OF hands or face.
1t II easy to see that one person re-
quires PHYSICIANS prescription. and the
other needs to use only the mildest REM
edy.
All remedies. therefore, are given con-
ditiOnally. In the majority Of the cases
of those who are susceptible to the poi
sonous touch, a weak solution OF COM
mon baking soda and water applied im-
mediately after exposure Ia SUFFICIENT A
teaspo0nful Of Soda, dissolved in half a
cup of hot water. cooled and applied with
soft linen handkerchief. is generally Of
ficacious. Some persons who are exceed
ingly sensitive to this poison find this
remedy always good. Others find 1t nee
essary to apply weak solution of car
bolic acid or a weak solution of sugar OF
lead. Neither Of these powerful remedies.
however. should be used without the
advice of physician. The fact that con-
tact with these plants quickly develops
an irritation of the skin shows a ten
dency to erysipelas and kindred af1iic-
tons, and In some cases an impure condi-
ton of the blood that requires physi-
clans care.
Some find the juice of the tomato suf-
iicient to neutralize the poison Of ivy.
Almost every farmer who has been
troubled with poison ivy has a favorite
remedy, which is usually either veg
etablc acid or of an alkaline nature.
Some people find one more effective, 9TH
ers. the other.
Few people know how exceedingly
common the poison ivy is. Even in this
well-cultivated state in the northern and
western part. 1t literally overruns entire
fteids near moist woodlands. and grows
usually by the roadside. Thousands of
people must come In contact with II daily,
yet cases of poisoning are not common.
In some of the summer cottage Settle
ments In the northern part of this state
poison Ivy has so thoroughly established
its home that in certain places on the
grounds it festoons the trees. and pro-
duces its flowers and clusters of white
berries year after year. Yet in one Of
these settlements. annually visited by
from eight thousand to ten thousand peo-
pie. but three cases of poisoning from
the plant have been heard OF In ten years
One of these victims was a workman
who trimmed a number of trees while he
was overheated. He no doubt came re
peatedly in contact with the ivy. He was
most violently affected as was also "a
little chilli who played beneath trees that
were draped alike with poison ivy and
with the innocent woodbine. or Virginia
creeper
Hundreds of children must have played
h .srI .t,;t =
ceptible than adults to the poisonous
touch. yet this child is the only case re-
corded OF anyone being poisoned there.
The woman who owns the trees refuses
20 believe any of the vines on them are
poisonous. The poison ivy is the only
climbing vine which bears three leaflets
md white berries. The woodbine mas five
leaflets and black berries.