PLANT DERMATITIS 309 



-who are very little, if at all, incommoded by it, while others, who 

 merely pass by the tree, are severely affected ; though never attended 

 with fatal consequences, it is, nevertheless, very troublesome. _ Great 

 precaution is requisite in cutting the tree, as its viscous Juice is 

 extremely caustic ; but when dry, the wood loses all its injurious 

 qualities." Molina, who has been described as "one of the most 

 pernicious blunderers who have brought confusion into Natural 

 History " (J. Ball, Notes Nat. S. Am. 175 ; 1887) is not very trust- 

 worthy ; but, according to Gillies, " the statement made by Molina, 

 relative to the poisonous nature of this tree, seems to be well founded ; 

 as I am informed, by several intelligent people, that individuals 

 resting or sleeping under it at certain times of the year, are after- 

 wards°attacked with eruptions all over the body " (Hook. & Arn. 

 Eot. Beechey's Voy. 16; 1832). 



C. Gay (Fl. Chil. ii. 44; 1846) stated that the " Liti or 

 " Litre " tree (Lithrcea caustica) is common on hills and sun-exposed 

 plains in central Chile, extending from Coquimbo to Arauco; and 

 that the danger of remaining underneath it or of burning it is well 

 known. It is mostly women, children, and persons of weak constitu- 

 tion who are affected. _ 



Another anacardiaceous tree well-known in subandine America as 

 producing dermatitis is Rhus juglandifolia H. B. K. (Nov. Gen. 

 Sp. vii. 8, tt. 603, 604; 1825). Humboldt and Bonpland were scep- 

 tical as to the alleged ill-effects of remaining under the tree without 

 actual contact taking place. " Lac aquosum, quod arbor stillat, in 

 cute post 2 vel 3 dies ejicit pustulas similes vanolis, quamobrem 

 incolaj non solum succum sed etiam umbram arboris uietuunt, fabu- 

 lantes earn noxiam esse, prsesertim quando post pluvias sol arborem 

 calefecit. Sunt tamen, qui nee post contactum, nee post tritum 

 ullum sentiunt effectum adversum" (I. c. 9). 



Triana, on the other hand, was satisfied that the popular idea of 

 the " shade " of the tree being dangerous was well-founded.^ " Le 

 Rhus juglandifolia exerce une actione curieuse sur l'homme : l'ombre 

 seulement de l'arbre ou ses emanations, son contact, son approche,_ la 

 i'umee de son bois, produisent, suivant les individus, une irritation 

 avec o-onflement accompagne de demangeaisons. L'intensite de ces 

 accidents est presque nulle pour certaines personnes, plus ou moins 

 grave pour d'autres. L'un de nous [Triana] a eprouve ces effets en 

 recoltant et en dessechant la plante ; meme action sur une autre 

 personne qui l'avait touchee. Les gens du pays combattent ces affec- 

 tions en faisant des frictions avec de la graisse ou avec de la creme 

 (Ann. Sc. Nat. ser. 5, xiv. 289 ; 1872). Triana's evidence as to the 

 poisonous nature of llhus juglandifolia seems to have been overlooked 

 (Kew Bull. 1898, 100). 



The poisonous character of Gluta renghas was known to 

 Kumphius (Herb. Amboin. ii. 259, t. 86 ; 1750), a translation of 

 whose remarks was given by Jack (Hook. Comp. Bot. Mag. i. 268 ; 

 1835) • " The exhalations of this tree are considered noxious, and the 

 people of Macassar and other parts of Celebes in particular, entertain 

 such dread of it, that they dare not remain long under it, much 

 less repose beneath its shade ; they say that whoever receives the 



