612 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



the cutis. The overfilling of the vesicles causes a rupture of some of their epidermal cover- 

 ings, and the discharge of their fluid contents upon the surface, forming moist, excoriated 

 surfaces, covered in part with crusts. 



With reference to a sequelae question of duration, there is a diversity of 

 opinion. There is a popular belief that within a year after the first attack there 

 will be a repetition of the original manifestations upon the skin which may 

 be repeated for several seasons. Dermatologists think that a variety of cutane- 

 ous affectations are developed in consequence of the action of the Poison 

 Ivy. Dr. White considers that there are good grounds for this belief and in 

 referring to his exhaustive researches on the subject, states that he was unable 

 to find a single instance on record of the poisonous Rhus on the lower animals. 

 After placing a notice in the "Spirit of the Times," a physician wrote him that 

 once or twice while hunting where ivy abounded, his dog's eyes had been closed 

 by swelling which he attributed to the action, but he had never observed any 

 eruptions. The poisoning has been attributed to toxicodendrol C 27 H 40 O 10 + 

 4H 2 0. 



Remedies. The most popular remedy is to wash with sugar of lead (ace- 

 tate of lead). Prof. Chesnut says: 



In practise it is not desirable to use strong alcohol, which is apt to be too irritating to a 

 sensitive surface, but a weaker grade of from 50 to 75 per cent should be preferred. To this 

 the powdered sugar of lead is to be added until no more will easily dissolve. The milky fluid 

 should then be well rubbed into the affected skin, and the operation repeated several times 

 during the course of a few days. The itching is at once relieved and the further spread of 

 the eruption is checked. The remedy has been tried in a large number of cases and has al- 

 ways proved successful. It must be remembered, however, that the lead solution is itself very 

 poisonous if taken internally. 



Much has been said in regard to the relative poisonous character of these three plants. 

 It has been generally claimed that the poison sumac is the most poisonous, and after it comes, 

 first, the poison ivy and then the poison oak. These conclusions were arrived at from the 

 occasional experience of individuals who were poisoned by handling one species when sup- 

 posedly immune to others. Experience teaches, however, that immunity is somewhat variable 

 in the same individual, and therefore these general statements can not be accepted without 

 more careful experimental evidence. 



Annie Oakes Huntington in her recent book on Poison Ivy and Swamp 

 Sumach says regarding the treatment: 



Soap, water, and a scrubbing-brush seem altogether too simple a method of treatment to 

 advise for the painful eruption brought on by handling these two poisonous plants. Yet, if we 

 begin with this old-fashioned country remedy and study the various methods of treatment from 

 one generation to another, we return at last, through the most recent scientific investigations, to 

 our original starting-point. The only effective measures are preventive ones; the only remedy 

 is a wash which mechanically removes the poisonous oil from the skin. In this lies the sum 

 and substance of the entire method of treatment. 



She made an experiment in which it was shown that oily preparations spread 

 the poison and that constant washing with soap and water removes the poisonous 

 oil which causes the trouble. The toxic principle is soluble in alcohol and this 

 may consequently be used. A weak solution, 50 or 75% is advisable, but the 

 treatment must be renewed. One part of hyposulphite of soda to 3 parts of 

 water is another good solution recommended by her. 



Syme in Dr. Remsen's laboratory, has come to the conclusion that the 

 active principle of Poison Ivy is a glucoside and not an unknown volatile oil, 

 as stated by Pfaff. The glucoside as determined by Syme, is a compound of 

 rhamnose, gallic acid, and fisetin. It can be precipitated by a lead acetate. 

 Syme tested the toxic action of the various fractions upon himself and was able 

 to determine the chemical nature. 



