Evening star., 1949-08-10
This and That
By Charles E. TraceyeH

-
Poison ivy is one of the true pests Of
humanity.
# as much time and work and money
were put on its eradication as is spent now
on lesser progresses. the benefit to the race
would be immense ~r+t"-t,s
What makes it more troublesome than it
need be is the plain fact that some persons
think 1t something to laugh of.
Usually such wags end by getting q neat
case. after which they spend time and
money trying to overcome it.
They could save themselves trouble and
pain by avoiding it in the first place.
4 y Il
Every person should be interested enough
to learn to recognize poison ivy on sight.
It varies from month to month. In the
fall 1t is as pretty q plant as can be found.
with flue red leaves embodying the very
essence Of the autumn.
In spring 1t begins to grow and by this
time Of year blends perfectly with the rest
OF the greenery In every suburban section.
The leaves are three, most persons re-
member, to distinguish 1t from the Virginia
creeper. whose leaves grow in groups Of five.
but the trouble comes because most persons
do not take the trouble to look.
They just catch It!
\
Well. that's one way Of doing it, and surely
the most pointed.
The poison comes from an oil secreted by
the plant. particularly the leaves.
This oil may be caught just as well in
the smoke Of burning poison ivy plants. that
Is why one should never stand on the side
toward which the wind is blowing. Here
again some persons insist on regarding the
very idea as absurd. Perhaps they have
tough skins, chemically able to repel the oil.
Nr Y,arIopc fhoxy v1yi1I lot
We knew one young man-this was years
ago-who insisted that fear Of poison ivy
was sissy" To demonstrate his he-man
disregard for the idea, he washed his face
with some leaves. taking particularly good
care to get it In his eyes, nose, ears and
mouth.
day later he was carried off to the hos
pital, where he remained for long time.
He ultimately recovered, to become famous
; in the Department Of Justice but one thing
was certain, he never gave himself another
case Of poison ivy knowingly.
Either knowingly or unknowingly, 1t does
not pay.
Newer remedies for poison ivy work on
the principle Of keeping the oil from spread
ing.
That is why old-fashioned remedies, con-
tanning oil themselves. have gone out
In their stead we have drier remedies
seeking to keep the oil from being spread.
This oil Is a remarkably tenacious one.
Prompt application of soap and hot water
will do much to quell it, but not all; usually
something more is necessary.
Applications which dry promptly are best.
If on hands, care must be taken never to
touch the hands, even when covered with
medication. to the face, particularly to the
eyes, mouth, ears and nose.
The poison ivy plant is pretty one. espe-
cially when small. There was local buSi-
nessman who potted one, took it to his office.
and placed it on his desk. The plant was
about 2 inches high, with neat leaves and a
pretty form.
Many persons admired it. but not one
recognized 1t for what 1t was.
This is not an experiment to be recon-
mended, however, although such small plants
are not as likely to be poisonous" as larger
ones
In suburban communities these plants
lurk In many places, often along sidewalks
or in hedgerows Just about where human
hand would drag as one walks by.
Property owners should be on the alert to
dig up and destroy all plants In their own
yards. In this way most. If not all, could
be done away with in any suburb. Inspec-
tions then should be made twice year. fall
and early summer, in all community prop
erty, especially along sidewalks and in parks
and vacant lots.