Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-30

hand touched more sensitive part of the
body the poison was transferred.
In order to satisfy myself that toxico-
dendrol was not volatile oil. that is. that
the oil Of the Ivy does not vaporize and
circulate through the air, and to show that
ivy poisoning was not distributed through
the blood I experimental upon myself. I
applied minute quantities of the OIL to four
places on the left wrist, and these were
carefully guarded to prevent spreading.
AT the end of an hour one of the spots was
thoroughly washed by successive applica-
tons Of alcohol; in three hours the oil
from second spot was washed or In the
same manner, and the others were cleansed
three hours later. There was little or no
erect on the first; that on the second was
more marked, but did not equal that pro-
duced on the last two. The spots were
within an inch OF each other, but remained
wholly distinct, a fact which very clearly
shows that the affection is not spread by
the blood. Subsequent applications of an
alcoholic solution Of sugar of lead gave
speedy and permanent relief.
Ono Fatal Case.
ivy poisoning Ii seldom fatal. In fact,
know Of but one fatality, and that IL
famous In medical history. A small boy,
living on a farm had Just recovered from
a very severe illness which had taxed his
vitality. when he was sent down to The
creek one day to be washed by a labo-er,
who had been engaged clearing out a lot
OF underbrush, among 1t considerable pol
son ivy. Without first washing his hands
the man waded into the stream and gave
the boy severe rubbing. using his bare
hands In day or two the boy broke out
all over with ivy poisoning in it's most
severe form, and In his already weakened
condition was unable to withstand the
shock to his system. The oil on the mans
hands had been rubbed well into the pores
of the unfortunate boys skin and while
the man himself felt no evil effects, the boy
died
"A person coming in contact with poison
Ivy should lose no time in removing the
oil from his skin before It has a chance to
sink into the pores. The sooner Ii Is re-
moved the less the danger of poisoning
A good washing within an hour after the
poison Is touched will generally prevent
any outbreaking Of the skin. II possible
the parts coming IN contact with the ivy
should be washed In alcohol. not in a basin
OF alcohol. for that would merely dilute
and distribute the poison, but In a series of
from drippings. If alcohol is not availabls,
warm water and soap will answer the pur-
pose. but the washing should be thorough.
and should be repeated several times
Now for the Remedy.
Once the poison gets In, however. the
remedy must be looked to, and the sooner
1t Is applied the better. An alcoholic so)u-
ton Of sugar of lead will give speedy and
permanent relief. In practice 1t is not de-
sirable to use strong alcohol. which is apt
to be too irritating to a sensitive surface,
but weaker grade Of from 80 to IS per
cont is recommended. To this the powdered
sugar Of lead is to be added until no more
will easily dissolve. The milky fluid should
then be well rubbed into the affected skin.
and the operation repeated several times
during the course Of few days. The itch
ing Is at once relieved. and the further
spread of the eruption Is checked. Tho
remedy has been tried In a large number
OF cases. and has always proved success
full 1t must be remembered however that
the lead solution is itself very poisonous IL
taken internally.
times called. is readily distinguishable from
other wild vines and plants. 1t Is a climb
ing or trailing shrub. found on tree trunks
crawling along the ground. occasionally
growing erect like shrub always with
variable three folate leaves, aerial root
lets and greenish flowers. appearing in May
and June The smooth. waxy white fruit
often remains on the plants until late in
the winter. The leaves often resemble
those of the box elder. They differ from
those OF the Virginia creeper only in hav-
ing but three leaflets instead of five Be-
cause of its resemblance to Virginia Creep
er, poison Ivy IS often planted around
porches and in gardens and Is more often
gathered in the woods by persons making
up bouquets OF wild flowers and foliage
All this could be avoided IL persons would
only learn to know the ivy and to distin-
guish it.