Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-04-02
EXPERTS STUDY
IVY POISONING
Seek Best Ways to Avoid Infec.
ton and to Eradicate
Noxious Plants.
IMMUNITY DOES NOT EXIST
Economic Losses From Poisoning Arc
Very Great and There Is Urgent
Need Of Widespread Campaigns
to Stamp Out Poisonous Plants.


to Stamp Out Poisonous Plants.
prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture)
Washington, ID. C.-The best ways
to avoid Ivy and sumac poisoning. The
most practical means of eradlcatlnt
these noxious plants, and the mos
approved method of trcatingscaseS ol
such poisoning have been the subjects
OF an investigation conducted jointly
by the United States department OF
agriculture and the public health scrv
ice OF the United States treasury de
pOrtment. Despite general belief there
is good reason for believing that abso'
lutte immunity from ivy and sumnt
poisoning does not exist investigators
state. They also found that many
common methods of treatment are not
to be commended. Poison ivy is some
times called poison oak. Poison sumnC
Is also known in various localities as
poison dogwood. poison elder, poison
ash, thunderwood, and poisonwood
These poisonous plants are widely dis
tributed. While no accurate estimates
can be made as to the economic losses
resulting from poisoning, the total Is
very great, and there is urgent need
for widespread campaigns to eradicate
these noxious plants.
Handle With Gloves.
n one must handle these poisonous
plants. gloves, preferably of rubber
should be worn. After the gloves have
beer removed they should be thorough
~ washed with soap and water and
rnsed several times. Innsmuch as the
clothing which comes in contact with
the leaves may be a source of infection
for considerable period. care should
also the shoes. Many cases of poison
ing have resulted merely from contact
with exposed clothing
One of the surest and best methods
of minimizing or preventing infection
after the hands. face or other parts of
the body have been exposed is TO wash
and rinse them repeatedly with an
abundance of good kitchen soap and
hot water. The poison after being
deposited on the skin, requires some
time to penetrate. and if this pcnetra-
tion can be prevented by thoroughly
washing, eruption and irritation will
not result. While exposed parts should
be cleanScd in this manner as soon
after exposure as possible, it is worth
while to make the attempt even II or
20 hours afterwards in the hope that
at least portion of the poison may
be removed. A heavy lather should be
produced and the washing should be
continued several minutes. Severe
scruhbing with a brush is not advis-
able. but several swabS or small com
presses Of cnuzc may he used, discard
Ing each in turn. so that the poison
may not be distributed by the cloth.
Bathing with alcohol diluted with
an equal amount of water is also an
effective preventive. Where exposure
has been more general Il bath for tho
entire body. followed by change of
clothing. is a good preventive measure.
The hair should not be neglected.
Bathing. If not accompanied by sufi-
cfent changing of water or rinsng. may
result in spreading the rash to skin
that had not been infected. In cases
that are ut all serious a physician
should be consulted
Sugar Of Lead Not Recommended.
The Investigators call attention to
the fact that scores of remedies and
lar favor. but in spite of the claims
they assert that no specific treatment
for poisoning from ivy and sumac IS
get available. Ointments should not
be used In the acute stage of the dis
ease. In the later stages, however
soothing and astringent ointmcnts may
be Of value in allaying irritation and
Fastening cure. The extent to which
1t is desirable to use solutions of per
manganate of potash, hyposnlphitc of
soda. sulphate of magnesium Epson
salts), and other remedies, Is also dis
tussed. Sugar of lead. formerly much
used. often proves disappointing If ap-
piled after Inflammation has developed.
and the user runs the risk Of lead pois-
oning if this substance is applied ex-
tensively.
The names "pOison oak" and "poison
ivy" are used INTERCHANGEABLE in many
localities. The plant generally known
as poison oak throughout the Pacific
coast occurs rs bush, sometimes four
or five feet high, and has leaflets re-
sembling the leaves of the western oak, |
but 1t is also found as vine, and is
sometimes called poison ivy.
In the east from New Jersey. Della
ware and Virginia southwark the name
'poisOn oak is often used to diStin- |
guish from the poison ivy vine Il form
occurring as bush with lobed leaflets,
q little resembling the leaves of scrub
oak. Westward from Minnesota. Ne