Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-30
PREVENTION AND CURE
Some Useful Information
About Poison Ivy.
THIS Is ITS SEASON
HOW IT MAY BE DISTINGUISHED
FROM OTHER PLANTS.
Ways in Which Its III Effects Are
Transmitted - But One
Fatal Case.

Written for The Evening Star.
mo plant of the United States Is more
popularity recognized as harmful to man
than poison IVY declares Mr.. v. X. Chest
nut the poisonous plant expert of the De-
partment of Agriculture. Its effects are
familiar to every one, and, as its victims
far outnumber those of all other plants
combined, it has come to be regarded as
the poisonous plant of America. Poison
Ivy is so plentiful that every one should
know something about the plant. and the
proper treatment Of Ivy poisoning. This is
the season when ivy is growing most vigor-
ously, and persons roaming through the
woods should be extremely careful to avoid
coming in contact with the leaves or stalks.
"A great deal of the suffering caused by
poison ivy could be avoided" added Mr..
Chestnut, eff persons would take due pre-
caution to avoid the plant in the first place.
and would lose no time in applying proper
treatment whenever they do come in con-
tact with the poison. Most IL not all the
severe cases that have come to my notice
could have been avoided IL they had been
taken in time"
Mr. Chestnut has devoted a vast amount
of time to the study Of poison ivy. not only
to the growth Of the plant. but to the pol
son itself. and to methods Of treatment Of
ivy poisoning. He has been sufficiently in
terested to offer himself up as subject of
experiment on a number Of occasions, hence
he can speak authoritativeiy.
Until recently poison ivy was q great
mystery, both to botanists and to chem
ists" continued Mr.. Chestnut. mo one
was able to tell how its effects were pro-
duced or to what principle they were due.
Formerly the poison was supposed to be q
vapor or exhalation from the plant; then
with successive stages in the development
of chemistry and biology. it was attributed
a. ~l-ks IT, H. @iI u
tile acid and to bacteria. Experiments
seemed to verify each Of these Ideas in
turn. but that all were erroneous has re-
Gently been shown by the discovery made
versity Medical School. that the poison Is
in reality non-volatile oil. This OIL now
technically known as toxicodendrol is
found in all parts OF the plant, even in the
wood after long drying. Like all OILS 1t Is
insoluble in water, and cannot therefore
be washed off the skin with water alone.
1t is readily removed by alcohol The Oil
is easily and effectively destroyed as first
shown by DR.. Pfaff. by an alcoholic solu-
ton of sugar Of lead. chemically known
as lead acetate.
Readily Transmitted.
$50 very poisonous is the oil of tho ivy
vine.' says Mr.. Chestnut. that a very
minute particle will affect a sensitive skin.
This can be Imagined when 1t Is known
that thousandth part Of milligram will
sometimes cause an eruption. Tho vicious
oil is readily transmitted and transferred
from one object to another. In conse-
quence Of this fact many persons become
poisoned who have not been near a poison
ivy plant. but In every instance the POISON
can be traced back to the vine.
ut has happened many times that per-
son driving in the country will stop by the
roadside to gather flowers. and In so doing
will allow his hands to come In contact
v~vl<1 ,Jo tryv MA nj In uele
not be poisoned. while some ono else taking
up the whip or the reins which he after
ward handled may contract the poison.
There are instances OF record where per-
sons have become poisoned from handling
golf balls which. In play. have brushed
against an ivy plant, and carried OF some
of the poisonous OIL Very frequently a
susceptible person has been poisoned by
shaking hands with another who has han
died or touched poison ivy, even when the
latter has suffered no Ill effects.
Experiments conducted so far have not
definitely determined how easily poison can
be absorbed from the Ivy. Some persons
with sensitive skin are poisoned by merely
brushing across the ivy. Others are not
poisoned without 6toutiy rubbing against q
leaf or vine. and still others are immune.
It has been suggested that possibly the
poison ctrculates through the air, that is,
that particles of dust which lodge for a
time on the leaves may absorb some of the
poisonous oil. and when blown about by
Whether or not this Is so. cannot say.
How Poisoning Is Contracted.
There is general misconception of the
manner in which Ivy poisoning is contract
ed. It IL popularity believed that many
persons are poisoned by merely going near
q plant. do not believe this Is true.
Either they touch the plant unknowingly,
or, as said before. come in contact with
some person or object that Is contaminated.
You viii hear persons declare that ivy
POISON gets into the blood and is distributed
Though the system. That IL another fall
lacy. They think 50 because erupttons APP
peef Oh porttons Of their body that have
nSs Peeh cE % On tha i on p, the snouider
f6n6 thsppslves carried the poison to the
t4eot4d Wqtf. probably with their hands
Ih0 al My havN b6op on their finger nails
oeoot1 would not b felt The minute ths