96 Rhodora [May 



tion and perfectly isolated from any possibility of contact with poison 

 ivy or any other noxious plant. Sufficient exercise was taken to open 

 the pores of the skin. Leaves and stalk were then freely rubbed on 

 the back of the right hand and all around the wrist and fore arm. 

 The effects were as follows : 



First day — slight reddening and itching of the parts inoculated. 



Second day — swelling in blotches ; these quite red ; burning sen- 

 sation in the blotches; no fever perceptible. 



Third day — general symptoms of poisoning manifesting them- 

 selves, continuing to increase to the sixth day ; right hand and arm 

 swollen ; blotches dark red ; great burning and itching; temperature 

 100.3 at the highest; pulse 98; headache across the temples; 

 blotches also on the left arm and hand, across the chest, under the 

 arms, and one on the face — all points where the poisoning had 

 appeared in June. 



None of these last mentioned blotches were so red or became so 

 troublesome as the spots directly inoculated. Vesication ensued in 

 some of the blotches, followed the ninth day by desquamation. 

 Application of HamameUs virginiana relieved the burning, but as 

 symptoms rather than alleviatives were in question remedies were 

 used sparingly. The tenth day the trouble had disappeared except 

 for a slight redness and the last few white scales. 



Further tests will be made next June when the plant is in flower, 

 as it seems probable that that is the time when the poison is most 

 potent. Attempts will also be made to study a remedy. 



It is with regret that one of our most beautiful wild flowers must 

 thus be branded with such a vicious reputation ; but the conclusion 

 seems irresistible that there is a poisonous property about it which is 

 exceedingly irritating to some skins, although many people are able 

 to handle the plant with perfect safety. 

 Bradford, Vermont. 



Since writing the above I have learned from the Gray Herbarium 

 that the poisonous properties of Cypripedium spcctabilc have been 

 discussed in print by the following writers : 



Prof. H. H. Babcock in The Pharmacist, January, 1875. (Both 

 C. pubesccns and C. spcctabile regarded as poisonous.) 



G[eorge] T[hurber], Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, vi. n. (A review of the 

 preceding.) 



