The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-28


Il have met a great many people in the
electric cars at different times" says
New York woman botanist, with their
hands flied with the ivy In the FAN, and
l have told them that 1t was the poison
Gus ivy. IL grows on trunks of trees, on
fence posts. and runs along the ground on
the seashore. 1t is almost impossible to
exterminate 1t.
There is great difference about people
in the effect of the ivy, and a great differ
ence in the same peop.e at different times
In their lives. Some people are practically
immune from the poison I always used
to handle IL with no trouble, or perhaps
only few blisters upon the hands. But
1 was most seriously poisoned at one time
by handling a newspaper in which sprays
of the ivy had been wrapped.
Il was eating my luncheon al the time,
and suppose some of the juice from the
freshly cut plant was upon it, and I prob
ably conveyed 1t TO my mouth. My face
and hands were swollen, my eyes closed,
and l was confined to the house for a
week. The bhsters seemed to become con-
fluent upon one wrist, which had one enor-
nous blister, and left a scar which l have
still. Possibly some of the juice fell upon
that spot on the wrist. The swamp su-
mach has not the bright foliage in the
Fan, though the fruit is attractive and
there are not so many people who come in
contact with it.
Probably the best way TO become i'm
mune is to have z severe case of poisoning,
but the remedy cannot be recommended,
and IL is better to Keep at a safe distance
know one elderly woman who is poisoned
whenever breeze blows over her from
poison ivy as she passes 1t in driving. One
may at one time be immune, then be pois-
oned, and again become immune"
The poison ivy Is distinguished from the
Virginia creeper by the three fingers or
leaflets of the ivy instead of the five of the
creeper. The later is beautiful enough
and plentiful enough to supply all the
desire of the searcher after natural
beauties, and the ivy can be very well
left to those who know how to handle it.
To treat these poisons correspondent
of The Scientific American gave a hist of
remedies some years ago, which were pub
lshed in that journal. Being simple and
easy to obtain under most circumstances
they are given. They are for the poison
ivy, sumach, and poison oak.
THE milky juices of these shrubs" says
the writer "are neutralzed and made
harmless by almost any alkaH Strong
suds made from soft, or potash soap white
lye ammonia Waier-four or five tea
spoonsful 10 a pint of common water-or
a little saleratus dissolved in water make
good washes for the purpose. These
washes may be used as preventjVes or as
remedies.
white I've is made by throwing a couple
of quarts of the ashes of hard wood-hick-
| ory, oak, or any other variety--into a pail
of water. Stir end let ii settle The clear
liquid is while I've and is a good wash
| First, as prevenuves, when one is go
| ing in thinks he is going to be exposed to
! the influences of these pants. wet every
part of the skin that is uncovered with
one of these washes, being sure 10 let it
| dry on the skin without wipng. This
! treatment protects the skin from the in
! huence of poisonous plants. After one has
| been exposed, or fears so, the same treat
ment should be followed, always remem-
| boring to let the wash dry on the skin. If
| the skin poisoning has actually taken
place, use the wash freely, keep cool and
| quiet keep the diet light and cooling, and
| the bowels open.
IF much of the skin is involved in the
| inflammation, some caution may be needed
| in applying the washes. I once knew a
| case where the inflammation, which was
| on the hands and face, left the skin and
settled on the lungs. For few hours II
! seemed as If every gasp the patient took
would be his last but a very large and
| strong mustard poultice on the chest at
| last brought the poison out, but a cough
which lasted for months remained"
In very recent bulletin of the United
| States Department of Agriculture, in
|
/ poison sumach-poison dogwood, poison
elder, poison ash, all of which are names
| given to the same plant-has claimed more
victim to it's poisons than any other and,
! therefore, has come to be regarded as the
poisonous plant of America.
The poison has been found to be nom
volatile oil, therefore insoluble in water.
but readily washed off the skin by alcohol.
! Alkalies Mr. Chestnut says, render the
| poison inert but the oil is more easily de-
| stroyed, IL has been discovered. by an al
coholic solution of the sugar of lead.
| 1t is not desirable to use strong alcohol,
which Is apt to be irritating to sensitive
| skins. but weaker grade of from so to Is
| per cent. To this powdered sugar of lead
! is added until no more can be absorbed.
| This makes a milky fluid, which should be
! well rubbed into the affected part several
| times in the course of a few days. The
itching is allayed and the spread of the
| Infection stopped. Poison sumach, poison
! ivy, and poison oak Mr.. Chestnut gives
! as the order of the strength of the poisons.
! That Is from some general observations.
and Is not considered as absolutely to be
| relied upon, different people differing so
/ entirely at times as to their immunity to
| the poison.
If people knew that there was danger of
| prosecution and loss in case of poisoning
| occurring from poisonous plants upon their
| to destroy the poison ivy than have yet
| been attempted. A person is held RESPONSE
| BILE in England for cases of this kind by
! the common law, and a New York jury re-
Gently gave $500 damages to a plaintiff
| who was poisoned by poison ivy in a
! cemetery. Animals are not usually affect
| ed externally by poison ivy, and some of
| them eat the leaves without evil effect
Many other common plants contain a
| dangerous poison II eaten, and mothers
with children should recognize them The
familiar wild ladies' slipper and the lily of
| the valley are among them. Laurel and
bittersweet are better known as poison
! Gus.
| Poisoning. as with the ivy and sumach,
is one Of the most unlovely affections of
! the skin. There would seem 10 be nothing
| romantic about st. but there is at least one
woman VINO always claims that her hus-
| band first fell In love with her when she
was IN the worst and ugliest fortunes OF
poisoning from ivy Every cloud has a
/ silver lining.