124 STING OF NETTLE 



off the sting, and immediately a free passage 

 is made for the irritant fluid to pass into the 

 wound. If the sting be broken off below the 

 point, as is the case when it is grasped firmly, 

 the poison is poured on the skin instead of 

 underneath it, and is not felt. 



In this country we are more fortunate as 

 regards the nettles than our friends in Aus- 

 tralia. In New South Wales some nettles, 

 notably the Urtica gigas, are formidable trees 

 in more senses than one, and they frequently 

 form a great impediment to the traveller. 

 They vary in size from 20 feet to 120 feet in 

 height. Their leaves attain a breadth of 15 

 inches. The poisonous fluid secreted from the 

 foliage is excessively virulent, especially in the 

 younger leaves. It produces intense pain, and 

 often leads to dangerous results. 



There is, however, another side to the life- 

 history of the nettle. In all countries in 

 which the nettle thrives it is a most useful 

 plant, whatever the species may be. The 

 stinging-nettle of our hedges and roadsides 

 Urtica dioica is cooked and eaten as a vege- 



