XVII. Concerning Poison Ivy 



Poison ivy is a common climbing or shrubby plant occurring 

 along roadsides and in woodlands throughout the Chautauqua 

 region. There is some poison ivy within the Chautauqua 

 Assembly Grounds. Every person should be familiar with 

 the appearance of this noxious pest. The leaves are com- 

 pound with three leaflets irregularly toothed and notched. 

 The Virginia creeper, a beautiful harmless vine that is often 

 confused with the poison ivy, has compound leaves with five 

 leaflets each. The leaves of the poison ivy are bright red 

 when they appear in the spring and turn red again in the fall. 

 Through ignorance children often pluck the leaves for bou- 

 quets, and are terribly poisoned. The poison is a heavy, 

 gummy oil contained in all parts of the plant and exuded from 

 leaves, bark and fruit. Imperceptible amounts coming in con- 

 tact with the skin, cause the characteristic painful blisters. 

 Susceptible persons are affected by merely walking near the 

 plants. In case of poisoning bathe affected parts with a strong 

 solution of lead acetate in dilute alcohol (secured from a 

 physician) . 



68 



