Show Poison Ivy vy Leaf Costs US U.S. U 5 Workers V Lost Working SPRINGFIELD Ill Leaflets j w f three let it be There is much practical truth in irl inthis this old rhyme concerning poisy ivY according to Dr Roland R. R Cross director Illinois State Department of Public Health Pointing to the relative serious serious- seriousness seriousness ness of ivy poisoning Dr Cross I said that a recent survey has h s indi indicated cared that about work days daysI j I are lost each year in the United States because some unwary persons come into contact with the th poisonous weed Ability to recognize reco poison ivy and avoidance of t is the only sure preventive of this type of poison he said This is not always easy for forthe forthe forthe the plant may take the form of a small shrub a climbing vine or a thicket of plants growing as tall as five feet The The compound leaf composed of three shiny green leaflets is charac charac- characteristic characteristic characteristic of all types of poison ivy however Dr Cross added a special note of warning to those individuals who boast of natural immunity to poison ivy Investigations have shown that no one is immune to the poisonous element in ivy although some per per- persons persons persons sons require greater exposure to tobe tobe tobe be affected Immunization against ivy poison poise poisoning of ing fag by injections of which is the poisonous ele ele- element clement element ment in the ivy i plant has proven successful in some cas cases cages es In other instances the injections have not resulted in but usually prevent severe attacks Generally the injections must be taken each ea h I year to be affective I If a person knows or has reason reason- reasonable reasonable reasonable able grounds to believe that he has been exposed to poison ivy the best precaution is to wash all possibly exposed parts of the body with laundry soap soar and water as soon as asI I possible Ordinary toilet soap is in in- ineffective ineffective effective to neutralize the poisonous substance s Dr Cross said |