THE DOUBTFUL GROUP 



2163 



to Loudon, causes cutaneous eruptions when wounded, while 

 Hasselt says that it affects the Javanese after the manner of the 

 Rhus group when they come in contact with it. This requires ^con- 

 firmation. 



VIII. THE DOUBTFUL GROUP. 



The irritant poisoning caused by kaju-rugas, the juice of which 

 produces painful bullae, by kaju buta-buta, which causes violent 

 dermatitis and conjunctivitis, have not been well studied, neither 

 has the poisonous properties of the well-known daffodil; in fact, 

 the whole subject requires further study. 



Cane Dermatitis. — A peculiar dermatitis is found in people 

 handling and cutting reeds (Arundo donax Linnaeus) in Provence, 

 some parts of Italy, some districts of Greece, and other countries. 

 The dermatitis was studied by Blanchard and many observers, 

 among whom Thiebierge, Berlese, Brigi, Aravandinos, Sfameni, 

 and Vadala, may be mentioned. It starts with severe itching 

 and erysipelatoid eruption, associated with the formation of blebs, 

 generally on the uncovered parts of the body, but also on the genital 

 organs, which may become greatly oedematous, and febrile symptoms 

 with signs of coryza may appear. After a few days the rash dis- 

 appears, and is followed by desquamation. 



TheiEtiology is doubtful. Some authorities consider it to be due, 

 to the plant itself, others to a fungus (Ustilago hypodytes Schlecht) 

 and still others to a mite [Aclerda berlesi). 



Treatment consists in applying calamine and lead lotions. 



Vanilla Dermatitis. — This is often called Vanillismus, and is 

 due to Vanilla planijolia, which is a native of Eastern Mexico, but 

 which also grows naturally in Tropical America and is cultivated 

 in many parts of the tropics. Workmen when handhng the beans 

 suffer from itching of the hands and face, while the skin becomes 

 covered with a pruriginous eruption and reddens, sweUs, and 

 desquamates. It would, however, appear that this is not due to 

 the plant, but to some mite thereon, as it does not occur in some 

 works. It is said that only persons with dry skins should work 

 with vanilla, as the least drop of perspiration or moistening of the 

 beans causes their destruction by fungal growth. The jWhole 

 matter requires further investigation. 



REFERENCES. 



The best|general references are to be found in the Index Catalogue of the 

 Library of the Surgeon-General's Office, United States Army, Second Series, 

 voL xiv., 1909, p. 572: Rhus Poisoning; vol. xiii., 1908, pp. 814 and 815: 

 Primula Poisoning. A very excellent general paper is Havard, v. (1899), 

 Proceedings of the Association of Military Surgeons, vol. viii., p. 203, but the 

 most complete account is White (1887), ' Dermatitis Venenata,' Boston. 



Balch (1906). Journal of the American Medical Association. 



Bazin (1862). Le9ons theoriques et cliniques sur les affections cutan^es. Paris. 



Blanchard (1898). Archives de Parasitologic, vol. i. (Arundo donax.) 



