1906] Ivy Poisoning and its Treatment. 77 



IVY POISONING AND ITS TREATMENT. 



Nine years ago the writer was severely poisoned by handling 

 Rhus toxicodendron and though he has since taken great care 

 when in its vicinity few seasons have passed in which he has 

 escaped. In his own case many remedies have been tried, that 

 which has proved most efficacious being lead acetate and alcohol. 

 In a paper published in Khodora, (Vol. IV., pp. 43-45). Dr. Franz 

 Pfoff gives the results of a very thorough study of Rhus toxico- 

 dendron and R. venenata. He discovered that the active prin- 

 cipal was an oil which he named "Toxicodendrol" which he found 

 in all parts of the plant at all seasons. A sample of the oil kept 

 in an open porcelain dish for over thirteen months proved to be as 

 active as ever before. Dr. Pfoff also found lead acetate to be 

 the best remedy, and as cases of ivy poisoning are very frequent 

 here, his directions for removing the poison and keeping it from 

 spreading may well be reprinted. He says : 



"This can be done by vigorously washing the affected ex- 

 posed parts with soap and water and a scrubbing brush ; that is to 

 say by mechanically removing the oil. As the active principle 

 is very soluble in alcohol and gives with lead acetate a precipi- 

 tate which is nearly insoluble in alcohol, other processes may be 

 employed to remove the oil. The exposed parts may be washed 

 repeatedly with fresh quantities of alcohol and a scrubbing 

 brush. The poisonous oil may be thus removed in alcoholic 

 solution of lead acetate ; in this case the poisonous principle 

 would be first transformed in its insoluble lead compound and 

 then washed away with alcohol. 



"The washing must be done thoroughly when alcohol is 

 employed, as otherwise the alcohol might only serve to distribute 

 the oil more widely over the skin. The finger nails should be 

 cut short and also perfectly cleaned with the scrubbing brush. 

 Oily preparations, or anything which dissolves the poisonous 

 oil, if used, should be immediately removed, as they may only 

 spread the poison, giving it a larger area on which to work. 



"The treatment above outlined can not cure the already in- 

 flamed parts which must heal by the usual process of repair, but 

 it does prevent the spreading of the inflammation and may 

 serve to remove the poison before it has had time to produce its 

 characteristic effects upon the skin." 



In a later number of Rhodora, (Vol. IV, p. 106) Mr. L.E. Am- 



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