Milford chronicle., 1929-06-28
HRULE OF THREE" GUARDS
AGAINST POISON IVY

avoidance of some innocent plants,
but it expresses a simple rule of
safety and bears the Endorsement
of botanists in the United States
Department of Agriculture. In au-
tumn, poison ivy may be recognized
by its white, bony, berry-like fruits,
in connection with its three eSleaflets.
Botanists know several kinds of
poison-ivy plants and a wide variety
of local names such as poison oak,
three-leaved ivy, poison creeper,
oakleaf poison ivy, climbing sumac,
markweed, picry, and mercury. The
poison oak of the Western States
is also called poison ivy. These
plants, and their close relative,
poison sumac, are similar in their
poisonous properties. Their poi
sonous principle" says Farmers
Bulletin 1166-F, sis a nonvolatile
oily substance known as toxicoden-
drol which has such violently irri-
tant properties that the slightest
trace deposited on the skin is ca
pable of producing severe inflamma-
ton. All parts of the plant contain
the poison, even after long drying,
but growth in which the sap is
abundant is the most dangerous"
All these toxicodendrol-bearing
plants, with the exception of poison
sumac, are three leaved, and all
have white fruits. The red-berried
sumacs are harmless. The Farm
ers' Bulletin gives a more detailed
description of the several kinds of
poison-ivy plants. The Department
of Agriculture has available new
supply of these bulletins for free
distribution to those who apply for
them, and it recommends that the
bulletin be preserved as an aid in
identifying the plants, for advice as
to treatment in cases of poisoning,
and for the directions regarding
eradication of the plants.
Poison ivy grows both as vine
and as trailing shrub, and it is
found on both high and low ground.
There is a variety in the South and
the Southwest, the oakleaf poison
ivy, with leaves having three leaf
lets which resemble oak leaves.
Poison-ivy vines are sometimes con-
fused with Virginia creeper. The
''three-leaf" test distinguishes them,
for the Virginia creeper is five
leaved. Moreover, it has blue ber-
ries, while those of poison ivy are
white.
Poisoning usually results from
touching or brushing against poison
ivy plants, or from handling cloth
ing or other articles that have been
in contact with them. Smoke from
plants that are burned may cause
serious injury. Some persons be-
lieve they are poisoned when pass
ing the plants without direct con-
tact. 1.-THE symptoms of poison ivy"
says the bulletin, "are produced as
the irritant poison penetrates the
outer surface of the skin, and they
may appear within a few hours or
be delayed until five days or longer
after exposure.
after exposure to poison ivy,
measures to insure the removal of
the poison are of primary import.
ance. 1t should be remembered that
at first the poison is on the surface
of the skin and can be removed by
thorough washing and rinsing re-
peated several times. Careless
washing, however, may serve TO
spread the poison. Ordinary kitchen
or laundry soap which has an ex-
cess of alkali is best for the pur-
pose, and hot water should be used.
The soap should be applied freely,
so as to produce an abundant heavy
lather on the exposed surfaces,
and then rinsed off completely. The
operation should be repeated not
less than three or four times. Run
ming water is preferable, or if a
basin is used, the water should be
changed frequently. The hands,
especially the finger nails, should
receive particular attention"
For prevention, the bulletin rec
ommends solutions Of iron salts 2p-
piled freely to exposed parts of the
body and allowed to dry before go
ing into areas infested with poison
ivy, or applied Immediately after
exposure. A solution of 5 parts of
ferric chloride in 95 parts of half
and-half mixture of water and gly-
cerin, or a solution of 1 part of fer
rous sulphate in 5 parts Of water,
is recommended.
Even when the poison has started
to work, careful washing with aka
line soap is helpful. In severe cases
it is necessary to call a physician.
The irritation and annoyance usually
increases for the first few days, and
then subsidies. Victims often try
several remedies and may give un-
earned credit to the one they hap
pen to apply when the poison has
run it's course.
A 5 per cent solution of potassium
permanganate applied locally is a
good remedy. The stain will grad
ually wash off, but it's removal may
be hastened with lemon juice. Lo-
cal applications of solutions of
cooking soda or EPSON salts, one
or two teaspoons to a cup OF water,
are ordinarily as helpful as any.
Fluid extract of grindelia, diluted
with 4 to parts Of water is often
used. These solutions may be ap-
piled with light bandages or clean
cloths which should be kept moist
and changed often to avoid infsc-
tion. During the night, or when
moist applications can not be used,
the poisoned surfaces should be
carefully cleaned and dried and left
exposed to the air. Do not bandage
them tight. Immersing the poisoned
parts for several minutes in water
as hot as can be borne increases
the discomfort for the moment, but
a period of great relief follows.
In the early stages do not use
oily ointments. The oils tend to
dissolve and spread the poison. At
ter the poison has exhausted itself
mild dressing, such as zinc-oxide
ointment hastens healing.
Treatment for sumac poisoning is
similar. The plant is much differ