Evening star., 1948-06-03
This and That
Bu Charles +. Trnce1Deu

Poison ivy can be terrible afiiction to some,
especially If, the oil from it gets into their
eyes and mouths.
It is not, generally known, perhaps, that
the smoke from poison ivy plants being burnt
can cause more trouble than the fresh leaves.
That is one reason why promiscuous burning
OF debris Is a danger, since the smoke may
aflict some susceptible person at a distance.
Some wise persons make it a habit to burn
rooted-up poison ivy only when the air is
perfectly still.
Since the oil is nicely vaporized, even this
precaution may not help some persons.
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The wisest plan, for the easily infected per-
son. is to keep away from the plant.
That necessitates knowing it,
The leaves are shiny, and grow in groups OF
three.
The three idea is the pay-off. The Virginia
creeper, whose leaves somewhat resemble those
of the ivy in shape, are not so shiny, and
grow in clusters of five.
1t would be good thing for recent city
dwellers who may have moved to the suburbs
to look up an old resident and be shown q
poison ivy plant.
AS with so many Of natures odd children,
this plant does not show its evil. 1t is very
pretty, especially when young.
No pleasanter looking small plant exists.
The new ivy plant is innocent as can be. II
put in a pot, and exhibited, most of ones
WOulQ say, very pIetty, Wudt u IL!
Il -
There is a story current Of one Washington
businessman who potted . small plant, and
took it down to his of1ce.
OF the scores who saw it, not a one rec
ognized it for what 1t was, a real skin menace.
1t is a good plan for people with tender
skin to wear gloves In the suburban garden
and completely with hot water and yellow
laundry soap.
Such a soap contains more alkali, and 50
neutralizes more of the poisonous oil.
Those who fancy they are above being poi
soned by the plant had better think twice.
Many have thought so. only to find themselves
badly treated
1t is no fun to get it on ones hands and
arms, but infinitely worse to get good dose
in the eyes, ears mouth and nose
Today physicians have injections and there
are all sorts of remedies In drugstores, but
the best plan still is to avoid getting mixed
up with the plant
X
Birds are responsible for its spread.
This cannot be helped, and it Is no discredit
to the feathered folk. They have to exist.
Plants come up in the most unexpected
places, in cultivated rock gardens, at the base
of foundation walls in spots between the roots
of an oak
F4ourishing specimens get focthold in the
vined fence area, or where shrubbery Is
thickest.
Along sidewalk terraces and banks even
along great thoroughfares neat poison ivy
plants exist.
There is no escaping them.
\ \ X
The offending oil is very easily transferred
from hands to face. That Is why scratching
the nose or rubbing the eyes Is q dangerous
thing to do, IL one has been around poison Ivy.
Rubbing the eyes with the bare fingers, as 50
many people do, is never to be commended. It
Is bad practice, on general principles since the
rubbing may be done as easily with handker-
chief. Actually, there are few occasions when
an eye itch may not be dispelled by . simple
winking, continued for . few seconds.
Poison ivy control is best as follows: l..
Avoid II possible. D. Wash all exposed skin i'm
mediately, and follow with calomine lotion. 5.
Root up plants, and dispose of them, but wear
gloves, and do not burn on q windy day.
Some weed killers are supposed to end the
existence of these plants. but new ones will
come up. planted from the air.
The best plan is to know your poison ivy
plants. and to keep ~ far away from them as
possible.