The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-10-30
POISON IVY WEEK

From my own experience In prac.
 tice and my experience as a vic.
 tim, as well as the number of in.
 quirles from readers each season should say one week should be de. stgnated poison ivy week. I con. cede that the itching of ivy poison. ing is the most atrocious, madden.
 ing Itch there is--T know, for
 have had practically every form Of Itch you can name.
 First, 1t my opinion that a daily intraniuscular injection of Ivy toxin or extract in the homeopathic dose designed for the purpose, is the best treatment for ivy poison ing. Tn many cases one or two such shots" will bring relief and Q good start on healing within 24 to 48 hours.
 Second, I believe taking homeo- pathic doses of poison ivy (Rhus tox) taken in daily doses progress sively increasing for two or three weeks early in the season will con- fer considerable If not absolute iHn- munity of Ivy poisoning for the re- inainder Of the season. Tn the pamphlet on Ivy Poisoning you may have on request if you provide stamped self addressed envelope I give detailed instructions for this method of iinmunizing against ivy poisoning.
 Many readers have assured me that they have acquired immunity to ivy poisoning by simply eating or chewing Q wee bit of poison ivy leaf. Some readers have informed me that they suffered severe pois- ming by trying that. So do not recommend the experiment in any case.
 A Boston physician reports that scalding hot water will stop poison ivy itching immediately and even bring . quick end to the attack. He discovered what extraordinary re- lief scalding water gave to violent itching when he had dermatitis, In desperation he thrust his itching wrists under the stream from the hot water fauset, in and out quick ly to avoid scalding, for perhaps a dozen times, and obtained lasting relief. Later he found the treat- ment was equally effective for the itch of ivy poisoning, and for in. tense itching from other causes.
 Two readers writing from widely separated places inform me that they found banana peel gave erate- ful relief to the intolerable itching when the inside of the peel was rubbed slowly upon the itching sur- face.
 Another reader reports that his physician friend advised him to plaster dafnpened salt over the ai. fected area, which he did, with prompt relief and quick recovery.
 Still another reader tells Us that one need only apply white of egg in the morning and forget 1t.
 These simple remedies sound Q little too much like magic, perhaps, but there is no harm in trying them anyway.
 First step in treatment of ivy poisoning is prolonged gentle Spong- ing of affected skin with tepid soapy water to remove any remain- ing toXicodendron oil. Then apply cloths kept moistened with soapy water or with pure grain alcohol or with water containing Q tablespoon gul Of saleratus in the quart, or with equal parts Of pure grain al cohol and tincture of iron chloride. The wet dressings should be con- tinued for 24-hour period. If any olisters form. open them with liamed needle and carefully press out the fluid on clean gauge or cotton, and turn the bits of guaze ,r cotton or dispose of them without further contact, to prevent spread ,f the poisoning.
 Tn some instances. considerable Intense itching with some evident Ikir irritation or desquamation per- siStS for many months after ivy ooisoning. Tn such cases a few shots" of the same toxin or ex- ,ract now used for treatment of acute ivy poisoning. or q course of he internal homeopathic rnedica- ion mentioned above should be