POISONOUS PLANTS 165 



they have even been in the vicinity of the plant; 

 for to absolutely bruise the leaf is unnecessary with 

 those easily affected, a mere whiff of the oil, 

 slightly volatile as it is, being sufficient to trans- 

 mit the poison. The tingling sensation is soon 

 succeeded by watery blisters set deep in the tough- 

 ened cuticle. These blisters are often thickest be- 

 tween the fingers, behind the ears, or in folds of 

 skin where the oil remains undisturbed. 



Of course it is best to avoid Poison Ivy, but it 

 is hardly possible so to do if one desires to learn 

 more of nature than can be seen from a piazza or 

 from a neatly graveled garden walk. In fact, even 

 there this vine may be found sneaking its way 

 along an arbor, where a myrtle warbler, seeking 

 shelter on a wintry day, has dropped the seed. 

 So, after having done your best to shun the vine 

 with a hairy, woody stem, three leaflets and greenish 

 white berries, try to rid the skin as quickly as pos- 

 sible of the oil when once it has touched you. If 

 you are by a roadside or in a field, take a handful 

 of dust or fresh earth and rub the spot of contact 

 thoroughly. Water will avail little in removing 

 such a persistent oil. This is an invention of my 

 own for absorbing the oil, that I use with great 

 success upon my field companions, Flower Hat 



