m 



a few days at Kew in connection with this question, but in only 

 five eases was the true poison-ivy sent. 



The poisonous effects of E/ins Toxicodendron on the skin have 



long been known. As long ago as 1623 the author of the " History e 



of the Bermudaes " alluded to them, and there is now quite an 



extensive although scattered literature on the subject. Although 



its effects do not appear to be so violent in this country as in 



North America, numerous instances of Rhus poisoning are known 



to us here. The juice produces blisters and eczema-like eruptions 



on the skin, often accompanied by a general feeling of uneasiness 



and depression, in addition to the itching, pain and inflammation 



of the parts particularly affected. The supposed active principle, 



named "toxicodendron by Dr. F. Pfaff of Harvard, is insoluble 



in water. It is, therefore, of no use to attempt to remove the 



juice from the skin by washing with water. It saponifies and is 



rendered inert in conjunction with alkalies, and readily dissolves 



in alcohol. The best remedy to apply to the skin is an alcoholic 



solution of sugar of lead (lead acetate) which is said to give 



immediate and permanent relief. (See article by V. K. Chesnut 



in Yearbook of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 1896, 

 p. 139). J J 



Among the recent correspondents of Kew was a lady who sent 



the true Rhus Toxicodendron with the remark that she had used the 



leaves for dinner-table decoration. As no evil consequences were 

 recorded she was evidently one of the persons who are immune 

 from the effects of this poison. This correspondent also drew 

 attention to an interesting property of the juice of this plant, 

 namely, its indelibility when applied to linen and similar fabrics, 

 bhe found that wherever the liquid touched the white table-cloth 

 it produced a perfectly ineradicable stain, and remarks that " it is 

 realty better for marking purposes than many so-called indelible 

 marking inks." This property has long been known to botanists. 

 Kahn noticed it during his travels in North America about the 

 middle of the 18th century. And in Woodville's "Medical 

 Botany (1832) it is stated that "this juice, applied to linen, 

 torms one of the most perfect kinds of indelible ink ; it does 

 nor tade from age, washing, or exposure to common chemical 

 agents . . but continues to grow darker as long as the 



linen lasts. It may be mentioned that the juice (which imme- 

 diately exudes from a broken or cut surface of the wood or 



Mack 1S fi '" lSt mUky aad y ellowisli > btlt soon becomes 



W. J. B 



Presentations to Museums-Forestry Exhibits.— His Grace the 

 Duke of Wellington, K.G., Stratneldsaye, Mortimer, Berks. Speci- 

 B^irrel dam aged by rabbits, and pine cones nibbled by 



The Most Honourable the Marquess of Bath, Longleat, War- 

 minster. Specimens of various timbers damaged by honeysuckle 

 and a specimen of holly encircled by ivy. 



The Right Honourable the Earl Beauchamp, Madresfield, Mal- 

 rn. S pecimens of larch timber grown under various conditions, 



vern. 



