Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-10-14
HOW TO TELL POISON IVY
Leaflets Three, Let It Bel" Called
Good Advice by Experts

The homely saying Leaflets three,
let it be-" may cause unjust. suspicion
of some innocent and harmless plants.
but it offers a deal of good advice to
those who are acquainted with poison
ivy. Many persons each year suffer
the smarts Of Ivy poisoning because
they do not know how to recognize or
avoid the plant in its various forms.
The poison ivy plant is also known as
poison oak and by various local names.
such as three-leaved ivy. poison Creep
er. climbing sumac, mark weed, picry
and mercury. 1t grows in the form O.:
woody vines. trailing shrubs or low
erect bushes and adapts itself to the
greatest variety of conditions, flourish
ing in woods or in the open, in low
moist soil or in dry soil and on hill
sides. 1t is especially abundant along
fence rows and along paths and road
ways. scrambling over rocks and walls
climbing posts or trees to considerable
heights. often mixed with other shrub
berry in such way as to escape notice
until its presence is made konwn by q
case of poisoning.
Poison ivy, or poison oak, is found in
one or more forms in practically all
sections of the country. In it's various
forms the plant is most readily recog-
nized by its leaves. which are always
divided into three leaflets, and by its
whitish waxy fruits. which looks some
what like mistletoe berries. All yaric-
ties do not bear fruits, but when dis
covered the whitish or cream-colored
berries make recognition positive.
Poison sumac is also known as swamp
sumac, poison elder poison ash, poison
dogwood and thunder wood. 1t grows
only in swamps or in wet ground, and
is found from the New England States
south as far as Florida and westward
to Minnesota. Arkansas and Louisiana.
1t grows as shrub in clumps, with
tall. slender stems. six to ten feet or
more in height; also frequently as a
tree up to twenty or thirty feet high,
with trunk five to ten inches in di-
ameter. The leaves of poison sumac are
divided into seven to thirteen leaflets,
arranged in pairs. with single leaflet
at the end. The avoidance of shrubs
growing in lowland with leaves of this
general character is a safe rule for
persons not acquainted with poison su-
mac.
After exposure to poison ivy, meas
ures to insure the removal of the pois-
on are of primary Importance. At first
the poison is on the surface Of the skin
and may be removed by washing with
ordinary kitchen or laundry soap and
hot water. Care should be taken, how.
ever. not to spread the poison by care
less washing. Mild cases of ivy poison
generally subside within a few days
and do not cause alarm. Fatal cases
have occurred. and where the infiam-
alton is extensive or severe a physi-
clan should be consulted.
In the early stages Of ivy poisoning
remedies having a fatty or oily base.
such as ointments. should not be used,
as the grease or oil tends to dissolve
and spread the poison. say specialists
Of the Department OF Agriculture. In
stead they advise simple remedies, such
as local applications of solutions Of
cooking soda or of EPSON salts, one or
two teaspoons to a cup of water. Fluid
extract Of grindelia, diluted with four
to eight parts Of water, is often used
with success.
Solutions of this kind may be applied
with light bandages or clean cloths
which should be kept moist and should
be changed and discarded frequentI,.
to avoid infection. During the night
or when moist applications cannot be
used the poisoned surfaces should be
carefully cleaned and dried and left ex-
posed to the air rather than tightly
bandaged. In the later stage. after the
tcxic material has exhausted itself,
zinc oxid ointment and similar mild