108 Kansas Academy of Science. 



PRUNELLA VULGARIS. 



By I.. K. Savri.;. 



ONE of the members of the Academy, Miss Grace Meeker, 

 called the writer's attention to the remedial qualities of 

 PrinieUa in cases of poison ivy, and suggested that an analysis 

 of the plant be made in order to determine wherein lay its 

 remedial quality. 



Before referring to the analysis, it may be well to call at- 

 tention to the nature of the Rhu^ poisonous principle, which is 

 extremely active, even in minute quantities, as it forms a part 

 of the resinous portion of the plant and which is very difficult 

 to remove from the skin or clothing. Washing with soap and 

 water is not sufficient to cause its removal. If the skin is 

 thoroughly cleansed with soap and water until it is to all 

 appearances clean, the poison still remains. A mixture of 

 powdered soap pumice and sodium carbonate gives better re- 

 sults, although this does not insure safety. 



The best agent for removing the poison itself is a mixture 

 of two parts of ether and one of alcohol, and this should be 

 carefully applied, first with a pledget of absorbent cotton satu- 

 rated with the ethereal mixture, and then the moistened surface 

 immediately dried and scraped with another pledget of clean 

 absorbent cotton, and both pieces of cotton so used thrown 

 away. This process of the application of the ethereal solution 

 and wiping with dry cotton is repeated several times until 

 the visible resin is entirely removed. This is the only sure 

 mechanical means of absolutely curing the toxic principle of 

 this active drug. 



There has been some contention that there is a volatile prin- 

 ciple, as well as a fixed resinous oil associated with the prin- 

 ciple. Very susceptible persons have been poisoned from the ex- 

 halations of the plant. A remarkable case of this kind has 

 been published in the American Journal of Pharmacy for 1914, 

 page 112, contributed by C. E. Bessey. Quoting from his 

 article, he says : "From my personal experience," which he 

 gives in detail, "I do not see how any one can escape the con- 

 clusion that the poison of ivy is volatile." By merely looking 

 at the plant, without handling, he himself received the effe(5ts 



