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Another method is to wash the part suspected of ivy poisoning 
with strong grain alcohol. The fatty or resinous nature of the 
poisonous substance of this plant is saponified when treated with 
an alkali, which of course changes its chemical composition, thus 
rendering it harmless. While the alcohol treatment is based on 
the fact that the alcohol dissolves the fat which is thus removed 
from the surface of the skin, the alcohol treatment proves 
efficacious only during the first stage of poison 
Thousands of people are poisoned every year ae poison ivy, 
much to their discomfiture, both from a physical and a financial 
standpoint. A large manufacturing concern in the city only 
sone asked me to arrange an exhibit of poison ivy for their 
mona es. Their attending physician informed me that each 
ar eek the men are affected with poison ivy. In fact, 
cases of poisoning have been so common during the past year 
that the company decided to teach their men to identify the 
plant, and to apply the proper method of treatment in case of 
poisoning. 
For several years past efforts have been made to exterminate 
poison ivy in the New York Botanical Garden, especially in the 
vicinity of the main paths. Workmen, who are not susceptible 
to the poison of the plant, root out and destroy the plants, which 
is the only effective method of eradication. It is necessary to 
go over the same areas year after year to dig out any plants that 
may spring up from roots that remained in the soil or from seed. 
ter the first thorough uprooting the work for successive years 
is much less and in a few years the eradication is complete. 
Is it not time that steps be taken to rid the country of this 
pest? We can at least make a beginning by having exhibition 
beds of poison ivy in all our public parks. In making such an 
exhibit it will not be necessary to search beyond the park limits 
for these plants. In all the parks of the city there are thousands 
of plants of poison ivy. Why not rid our parks of these plants, 
push the campaign of extermination to the state, and finally to 
the whole country? Poison ivy has become a menace to public 
health. For that reason every person should be familiar with it. 
WILLIAM MANSFIELD. 
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. 
