Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-23
Health Talks by DR.. Brady
A Quick Cure for Ivy Poisoning.


Speaking from personal experience. should
say that having gangrcnous appendix re-
moved is pleasant pastime as compared
with having the scvcn-year itch for three
days, and I'd rather have n complication of
these trinuS affections than a mild attack Of
ivy dcrinatitis. The maddening thing about
last summers ivy poisoning is that the dis
covery OF the quick cure for this catastrophe
was announced only when the last temper
destroying symptoms were disappearing.
Or. Albert Strctlcr reports in the Journal
OF tho American Medical Association that the
injections of minute doses OF the toxin Of
poison ivy into the muscles Of person SUI
fcring with severe attack Of ivy dcrmatitis
brings relief TO the sufferer within few
hours and within two three days. This
is certainly a gratifying discovery, for under
ordinary treatment such an attack generally
lasts weeks and there is pronounced
tendency toward relapse and few sufferers
escape without Some secondary infection from
scratching careless handling. In some
cases OF ivy poisoning the victims make a
fairly prompt and complete recovery under
ordinary treatment. and then develop some
obstinate skin trouble which persists for
months and years.
1t is Dr. Stricklers practice TO question
patients to whether they have been
posed TO poison ivy poison sumac BOTH
AMI to use the toxin - one or both accord
Ing to the answer. II there is uncertainty.
ne both toxins. mixture OF two-thirds
From to fifteen drops OF the diluted
toxin is the dose usually given. each twenty
-four hours for two days, As a rule. though
sometimes tho dose must he repeated daily for
three four days. Usually two injections
all that is needed The itching Is relieved
within twcnty-fOur hours after tho first in
jcctidn. Doesn't that sound fine? 1t does
II you've had it. ~ the time Of the report
Stricken had treated thirty sufferers with
this method. without any local applications or
other treatment, and with a quick in
every instance.
The toxin Is prepared by the pharmacist.
chemist or laboratory expert by extracting
the fresh leaves OF the poison ivy OF poison
sumac with absolute alcohol. altering and
precipitatinE. The precipitate is dried and
extracted in Soxhiet extractors for ten hours.
The extract is dried at low temperatures The
toxin is carefully weighed and dissolved in
absolute alcohol. TO which certain amount
OF distilled water which has just heeu steri
LIKED. is added, to make the toxin nonirritat-
ing.
DR.. j. F. SchambcrE recommended the in
ternal use Of an extract OF poison ivy for the
purpose OF minimizing susceptible persons
against Ivy poisoning. DR.. Schamhcrgs fo--
mua is follows:
Tincturc Go per cent? OF rhus toxicodcn-
dron. part.
Rectified spirit. five parts.
Syrup of orange. enough to make 100 parts.
Take a dose three times a day after meals.
starting with two drops after breakfast. four
drops after lunch. six drops after dinner. and
Increasing two drops every dose till cich-
full once a day. for some two three weeks.
Take Il few doses every two or thrc" months.
ii exposed Every dose in least a wine
glassful OF water