THE POISON OAK OF CALIFORNIA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1706, 8 November 1887, Page 3

THE POISON OAK OF CALIFORNIA.

In California, U.S.i there growt a shrub, called by bot&Distß lihus diverailoba, which 1b poitonoui by c ntaot with any part of the surace of the human body, and by the Inhalation of its arrma. Persons very BBDBJtive of its miatma tnav even be point ned at some distance from tho ahrab, if to leeward of it, when the wind 1b blowing from the shrub towards them. The individuals most usual y susoeptlble to the poieon-oak are light or brown hairod, of fair complexion and slender bnlld, generally with » rather thin «kln. The •ynoi totns of poisoning oonßlst of an eruption of p'ntples wbfch itch vary much, and divelop Into email vesicles, commonly knows as blebs. As the eruption comes ont most thickly upon the face, neck, and iande, the falu'eex are particuhriy oarefrf to avoid exposure to the baleful el m cipher aof ihU shrnb. Id California therefore, before being Invited to apicnloln tbo oountry. the young lady U asked " Do you poiaco V* — a query father startling to the uneopbletlca'jed etr»ugor, bat which meant ucthing more thau, ''Are you susceptible to the pofsoj) oak V 1 Tbos« who are g^reraily deciioe ' <ba plooio, for tn the sprtDg and eutiomer, 'he yp'8 f >ao\u pjphftlatiooß §r? moat virulent. 0r J M. Mooro, fnveeti^afod three pn mmpul ohten of poisoning by this shrub when he was resident la Oalifornis, and bronchi tome of the dried Itiavea home to E»g lend. These leaves are somewhat Uk< oik-leaves In shape, Id color of a gVaj green above, and a doll p^e green beloir After the month of July the leaves turn ' a dark red, motcifd with yellotr. The 1 fruit 1b red t>err> 00 leiimes eaten bj ohildren wJ/A Inj' 1 foa reßoUs. The pouonlng effeotß a c BO rcely ever fatal, but give rledp eomepfija >'io to & ohronic*ljy reputfent evup oa, breaking out t every ipifog or biu. bo for years. t HoccLcputhh. physiolans take a peoaliai Interest m tieio phenomena, became, j aodng upf>n lhf law (of wide application] s b-im'dia similbus cunnlur, the Rbu« j divtsalob»nay pipvo to be a mout.'fffioaj clous remeV foe a cwte ec?«ma an<J {oj Bryßip»U»,(p ver^ 4obob 4 1