88 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 



ing a tiny spot on the little finger which had accidentally 

 touched a leaf of poison ivy while I was digging plants of 

 Virginia snake root {Aristolochia Serpentaria) . I used as a 

 lotion New England rum and water equal parts, but it 

 was fuWy two months ere I recovered from the direful 

 effects of this poisoning. It seemed to poison the whole 

 s^^stem. The next year in July (my previous attack was 

 in September) I suffered another siege of a similar nature. 

 This was less protracted but the rum applications were of 

 little if any good and I used common cooking soda with 

 immediate benefit. I also found great relief by using a 

 little muslin bag of the soda, wetting it with cold water 

 and applying it to the poisoned hands, the blisters not be- 

 ing broken. 



I wonder if other observers have noticed with what 

 evident relish horses and cattle at times eat the leaves off 

 this noxious plant? I occasionally see it and though I 

 cannot forbear a shudder at the sight, I have failed to see 

 any harm result from it. Perhaps it would not hurt me if 

 I were bold enough to try it, but I freely confess I am not. 

 The mucous membrance cannot always be proof against 

 its effects for during my past experiences from the touch- 

 ing of it, the roof of my mouth had alter a while itching 

 blisters like those of my hands. It is very abundant all 

 about this section often growing rankly upon the walls 

 and fences, bordering our country roads for miles. It 

 looks well for it covers walls and fences with bright green, 

 which in October turns to brilliant hues, but to me at least 

 it is a constant menace and source of dread. 



New London, Conn., 



[There seems to be numerous instances of people at 

 first immune to the poison of this plant and later losing 

 such immunity. The editor, who once cultivated a case of 

 ivy poisoning upon his own hands for the sake of experi- 

 ment, found that common laundry soap rubbed over the 

 affected parts was very efiicacious in allaying the itching. 

 The old fashioned remedy was ''soft" soap, but^this com- 

 modity appears to have nearly gone out of existence. — Ed.] 



