The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-08-18

leaf surface or in the flower. The
form of the eruption varies IN
appearance although most Of the
eruptions produce blisters.
The blister appears first at the
place of contact with the plant,
but the contents of the blister
contain the oil so that auto-lnocu-
lation is a regular feature and the
vacationist may start out with an
ERUPTION on his hands which is
conveyed to the ears and face.
The onset is very sudden. You
will know you have handled poison
ivy within few hours at the most.
Nobody ever gets hablted to
poison ivy. No immunity is ere
ated. On the contrary, one attack
is likely to sensitize you to an
other. This statement is subject TO
some modification because the vac
cines that have been produced do
undoubtedly do some good, and
their action must depend on immu-
nifty.
The guilty wild plants in North
America are poison ivy, poison
oak. poison sumac. dogwood and
ash. They are all vines or shrubs
and particularly favor shady spots.
Primrose Dermatitis
The house plant that is the
guiltiest is the primrose. | once
had a patient who had a skin erup-
ton on the left hand. We asked
each other owe: and over again
why the eruption should be there,
and there only. | finally told her
TO keep a diary, putting down
every minutest action she per-
formed in each q hours for q
week. She came back in two days
and said, "Of course, the prlm-
roses" She watered her prim-
roses every morning and held the
watering pot in her right hand
while she lifted the leaves of the
plant with the left.
The treatment OF poison ivy and
other forms Of plant dermatitis IL
principally symptomatic and con-
sists in the application of lotions
which lessen the pain and itching.
The best Of all is old-fashioned
calamine lotion with just enough
phenol or nentho' in it to relieve
the singing and burning.
have talked to a number Of
people who have taken the vac
cines. About one out of four gets
complete relief. The vaccine one
takes by mouth. for some reason
psychologists cannot explain,
seems to act better than the others.
Ono woman | know could never
accompany her husband on
camping trip because of poison
ivy. Even if she got close to a
group Of the plants downwind, she
acquired an eruption. She was
persuaded to take some Of the rhus
extract by mouth and has been
completely free ever since.
The list of plants that will cause
some irritation Of the skin, not Of
any seriousness or duration, is
legion beginning with lady slipper
and poinsettia and including many
Of the mushrooms and tomato
leaves, skunk cabbage, smartweed
and parsnip. AS with all other
forms of this dermatitis, only sus-
eeptible individuals get it.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
F. W: have had my gall
bladder X-rayed and was told |
had gallstones. Would excessive
gas in the stomach be caused from
this condition? Is surgery the only
cure, and do the stones gather
again?
Answer: Gas on the stomach is
one Of the prominent symptoms Of
gladstone disease. Surgery is the
only real cure. Stones reform in
only about one out of a 1000 cases.
Medical treatment with mild diet
and a small dose Of salts in the
morning on arising, however, al
lows many patients long years or
q lifetime OF comfort