LOCO WEEDS AND OTHER POISONOUS PLANTS 83 



of touch-me-not (Impatiens) and bean leaves upon the part exposed 

 to the poison have been used. They are beneficial, although perhaps not 

 curative in their action. Dr. Pfaff recommends the use of an alcoholic 

 solution of sugar of lead (50 or 70 per cent, alcohol). The writer has used 

 all of these remedies with relief to the inflamed parts. In only one case 

 has his eyelids been swollen shut when he was a little boy not fully con- 

 scious of the virulency of the plants near which he played. 



Desensitization. Recently Schamberg, a Philadelphia physician has 

 discovered a means of desensitizing persons against ivy poison. The 

 method of treatment which he has devised is to administer the medicine 

 in half a glass of water after meals. The formula is Tincture of Rhus 

 toxicodendron i cc., rectified spirit 5 cc. and syrup or elixir of orange 

 100 c.c. and it is used as follows: 



Breakfast, drops Lunch, drops Dinner, drops 

 I 2 3 



4 5 6 



7 8 9 



10 II 12 



13 14 IS 



16 17 18 



19 2O 21 



Immunity established after one months administration will persist for 

 about a month afterward. The same mixture exerts a favorable influence 

 when given as a prevention and in abbreviating the duration of the attack. 

 Destruction. The destruction of the poison ivy, which owes its 

 widespread distribution to crows, can be accomplished by the applications 

 of arsenate of soda at the rate of one half to one pound to five gallons of 

 water is effective, but several applications are necessary: A solution 

 containing one pound of white arsenic and two pounds of sal soda in five 

 gallons of water may be used with similar results. Sulphate of iron one 

 hundred pounds to a barrel of water has been found useful. Covering the 

 poison ivy with tar paper creosoted below is effective, according to Dr. 

 G. E. Stone. 



Bibliography 



ANON.: Ivy Poisoning. The Youth's Companion, Sept. 12, 1918, p. 466. 



BLANKINSHIP, J. W.: The Loco and Some Other Poisonous Plants in Montana. Bull- 

 etin 45, Montana Experimental Station, 1903. 



CHESTNUT, V. K.: Some Common Poisonous Plants. Year Book of the U. S. De- 

 partment of Agriculture, 1896; 137-146, 1908; Principal Poisonous Plants of the 



