CIATION ACHERS IVY POISONING1 6. ALBERT HILL Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut WIT= TEE approach of spring and summer, those susceptible to ivy poisoning may modify Shakespeare and say in truth,"Now is the 'season' of our discontent." Picnickers, gardeners, fishermen, golfers, hunters, and just plain hikers will sufferfrom the itching and blistering which contact with poison ivy brings about. How does it do it? Certain members of the Rhus family possess "resin canals" which contain a white, milky, latex-like fluid possessing poisonous properties. Chemically, this fluid is very complex. It contains a t least three harmless substances and a t least three toxic ones, which today are designated as the allergens of poison ivy. All of the toxic components are catechol derivatives, i. e., they are 1,2-diiydroxybenzenes and have a normal, 15-carbon atom side chain a t position 3. I n some of the molecules the side chain is saturated, and that substance is known as hydrourushiol. This name was given to it by a Japanese chemist, who prepared it from a mixture found in the Japanese lac tree. The poisonous effects of the poison ivy allergens stem mainly from the hydroxyl groups, while the side chain tends to make the compound lipoid-soluble and markedly affectsthe passage of the poison into the cells. Other catechol compounds present in the toxic oil have unsaturated'side chains. The net effect of these groupings makes the mixture resemble linseed oil and accounts for some of the delayed cases of ivy poisoning. For example, a fairly large droplet of the oil may have got upon the head of a golf club in the fall when the player was swishing the club through the grass in the rough looking for a lost ball. If the drop did not come in contact with the player's hand and the club were put away for the winter the surface of the drop would undergo oxidation and form a "skin," protecting the still toxic unoxidized part of the poison for months. In the early spring, the first time the club was removed from the bag the "skin" might be broken by the player's hand and the poison transferred to his own skin, or, by shaking hands with another, to the skin of a second person. Many "mysterious" cases of ivy poisoning are probably "second-hand" cases.
What actually happens when the poison gets on the skin of a sensitive person? It may penetrate into the cells through the hair follicles, the oil and the sweat glands, or more likely it seems, directly through the cell walls of the skin itself. It has recently been suggested that the poison, which is notable for its strong reducing character, is oxidized by the keratin through the cystine disulfide linkages of the latter. While this action probably would nullify certain of the poisonous molecules, the skin's defenses would also be weakened, since the keratinous layer of the skin is its protective layer. The capillary walls are then presumably affected and, being but one cell thick, the damage leads to redness, then, through leakage of the blood plasma, to blistering The affected part is usually feverish and the blisters, frequently rather large, produce unpleasant effectsthrough vibrations of the fluid mass. Break.ing the blisters will relieve this sensation, but provides a point of entry for bacteria. In severe cases of ivy poisoning, boils and other infections are not uncommon consequences. Incidentally, the blister-liquid is not toxic and does not spread the affliction if it comes in contact with an unaffected part. .. While probably 75 to 80 per cent of $he population is susceptible to ivy poisoning, negroes are, in proportion, less likely to be attacked. This has nothing to do with pigmentation but results because their skin is blest with a thicker keratin layer than that of vhites. Oddly enough, new-born babies are not susceptible to the allergens of poison ivy. When an ointment containing the extract of ivy leaves was applied to the skins of 110 very young infants, not a single case of ivy poisoning resulted. Yet when the experiment was repeated mith a group of the same babies two weeks to a month later, the proportion of those who showed positive reactions mas approximately that of the general population. One surmises, therefore, that the first contact with poison ivy produces general sensitization only, and a second contact is required to produce the characteristic dermatitis. By a series of very ingenious experiments with guinea pigs, it has been proved that integrity of the skin is not essential to general sensitization whereas integrity of the thin muscle layer just beneath the skin is. Apparently, the sensitizing agent is water-soluble (the oil itself seems to be practically: insoluble in water) and is distributed
' Presented at the 235th meeting of the New England Association of Chemistry Teachers, College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, Massachusetts, March 16, 1946. 2!55
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through the lymph channels in the thin muscle layer. The spreading action so frequently noted in cases of ivy poisoning may occur through horizontal passage of the poison from cell to cell. While it may be interesting to know what actually happens when one is suffering from an attack of Rhus dermatitis, most people are probably more concerned xith the technique of avoiding an attack. The plant may be eradicated or preventive agents may be employed. While many chemicals have been used to rid areas of poison ivy with more or less success, and danger, two substances relatively new, a t least on a commercial scale, deserve particular mention. They are 2,4D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyaceticacid) and ammonium sulfamate, which is sold under various trade names. These substances may be applied to the leaves as a spray, and the plants are killed when the chemicals are carried to the roots by the natural plant processes. An ivy plant which grew in and had extensively invaded a rose garden was killed with no detriment to the roses by being given an opportunity to commit suicide. A cluster of leaves, still attached to the plant, was fastened in some sulfamate solution in a quart jar, and nature did the rest. When one is likely to encounter poison ivy, he may protect himself by coating his skin with a variety of chemicals. Since catechol is closely related to carbolic acid, it is not surprising that a base has been suggested for this purpose. One may use a sodium oleate solution or, more conveniently, a strong solution of soap may be substituted. Ferric chloride, 5 per cent in 1:1 alcohol and water, may be used since ferric chloride is known to react readily with phenols. The skin of some people is permanently pigmented by this reagent; hence, it should not be used extensively until preliminary tests have proved it to be innocuous. After exposure, or possible exposure, to poison ivy the parts should be given several separate latherings. The lather emulsifies the oil and rinsing removes it. Several separate treatments ensure complete elimination of the poison. The allergenic mixture is soluble in alcohol, an& careful washing with alcohol may serve to prevent an attack. However, the virtue of alcohol is simultaneously a defect for unless the solution is completely removed from the skin, washing with alcohol may serve chiefly to spread hitherto localized poisonous oil. In the opinion of the writer, most chemical "cures" for ivy poisoning approximate "locking the barn after the horse is stolen." A latent period of from minutes or hours up to from 5 to 8 days intervenes between exposure and visible onset of the case of dermatitis. Just what takes place in this interval seems still to be quite a mystery. If any of the oil remains on the skm and is hence accessible to chemical attack, any one of a number of reagents may be employed. McNair divided the remedies reported to have been used successfully into two classes, irrational remedies and rational ones. The former were given their special designation because there seems to be no discernible reason why they should
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
act upon an unsaturated organic compound or a phenol. In many instances they probably are the substances the sufferers used last while the affliction was running its normal course. The list of reported "irrational" remedies runs into the hundreds. The rational remedies are, in the main, oxidizing agents or substances especially prone to act upon phenols. Hydrogen peroxide, stabilized hypochlorites, sodium perborate, and that old standby potassium permanganate belong to the former group, while bromine (a very dilute solution in glycerol), lead acetate, and ferric chloride are typical members of the second group. The plant itself has been used to provide protection. It is said that the Indians used to chew an ivy leaf to render themselves insensitive to the plant, and some people today claim to have adopted the drastic measure with success; nevertheless, it is generally regarded as a very poor plan to follow. Extracts of ivy leaves have heenused as injections and orally, in tablets, both as p r e ventives and as cures with more than a little success. There seem to be notable individual differences in their use and effects, and what is good for one may quite literally be "another man's poison." If the extract is to be injected, it may best be done intramuscularly. Synthetic hydrourushiol has been suggested in place of the poison ivy leaf extract, and as a pure, homogeneous chemical individual it seems to have much to commend it. Over the country, the plant known as jewel weed has been used since very early days as a cure for this common affliction. The plant and the juice are used as a poultice and as a wash. Experiments aimed to test the scientific validity of this folk-way are about to be undertaken in this laboratory. ..it seems reasonable to surmise that the favorable action of this plant may be enzymic. An oxidase may be present. It has been found that mushroom tyrosinase will oxidize hydrourushiol to a benzoquinone; hence, a related compound in Impatiens may exercise a beneficial effect. In conclusion, it may be well to emphasize that while the toxic mixture is nonvolatile (it boils a t somewhat over 200" a t a pressure of 0.5 mm. and is not carried over in a steam distillation), it can be carried through the air as "aviating droplets" on the smoke particles when poison ivy is burned. Very severe cases of ivy poisoning have resulted from this source. Furthermore, while the really ripe berries are probably harmless, the unripe berries are toxic, since the female flowers contain resin canals in the ovules. Numerous cases of ivy poisoning, including one fatality, have resulted from children's eating these white or whitish yellow berries. Children should be taught to understand the full meaning of the jingle, "Fingers three, let it be!" which obviously refers to the compound leaf of poison ivy which is characterized by invariably having three leaflets. Adults who know the jingle, too, will not be led by their appreciation of the spectacular and the beautiful-togather sprays of ivy leaves gorgeously colored yellow and bright red when crisp autumnal days call one afield.
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Official Business
239th Meeting, February 15,1947. Rumford Chemical Works, Rumford, Rhode Island. The following program was given a t the 239th meeting of the N.E.A.C.T. Greetings, Raymond Copson, Research Director of Rumford Chemical Works; "Research of the Quartermaster Corps," W. George Parks, R. I. State College; "A .New Test of Critical Discriminition " John G. Read, R. I. College of Education. A short business meeting followed the luncheon, after which a tour was made of the Rumford Chemical Works. 240th Meeting, March 22, 1947. Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut. The followingprogram was given a t the 240th meeting of the N.E.A.C.T. Greetings, Keith Funston, President of Trinity College; 'The Sun as an Atomic Power Plant," Edgar I. Emerson, Trinity College; "Plutonium and other Transuranic Elements," John E. Vance, Yale University. A short business meeting followed the luncheon, after which a tour was made of the Aetna Insurance Building, including laboratories and special exhibits. A great many changes have had to be made in the membership of the Ninth Summer Conference Committee, as originally published. The corrected list of members of the committee is: Paul F. Stockwell, Chairman, Millard W. Bosworth, Secretary, Pearle R. Putnam, Treasurer and Registrar, Otis E. Alley, Lawrence H. Amundsen, Raymond R. Andrews, Constance M. Bartholomew, John P. Brennan, Helen W. Crawley, Edna M. Fielding, Helen S. French, Ina M. Granara, George D. Hearn, Helen G. Hirst, Elizabeth S. Hollister, Helen T. Jones, Rev. Raymond G. LaFontaine, Robert F. Lyons, Russell Meinhold, John K. Rouleau, John R. Suydam, Carl P. Swinnerton, and Elbert C. Weaver. When the list of the officersfor 194-7 was published in the September issue, the Chairman of the Western Division, Jean V. Johnston, was omitted by error. Our apologies to Miss Johnston for this oversight.
Amend Article VII by adding Section 4, reading: The Nominating Committee shall consist of three members, one being elected at each Annual Meeting for a term of three years. I n case of resignation or death, the President shall fill the vacancy by appointment to fill the unexpired term. Nominations for election to the Nominating Committee shall be from the floor a t the Annual Meeting. 0
New Members
Percy F. Benedict, Tilton School, Tilton, Xew Hampshire Antoine Cardona, Jr., High School, New Britain Connecticut George F. Condike, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Fitchburg, Massachusetts Charles D. Coryell, M.I.T., Cambridge, Massachusetts Brother George A. Gagnon, Mount Saint Charles Academy, Woonsocket, Rhode Island Robert L. Harris, Middlebury College, Middlebuiy, Vermont Madalin B. Heath, South Kingston High School, South Kingston, Rhode Island Ruth R. Jefferson, Windsor Locks High School, Wiudsor Locks, Connecticut Robert M. Kimball, St. Mark's School, Southboro, Massachusetts Sister Louis-Pierre, Rivier College, Nashua, New Hampshire Edward L. Spalding, Kimball Union Academy, Meriden. New Hamushire ~ n o c hF. Story, j r . , R. I. State College, Kingston, Rhode Island Louise 0. C. Swenson, English High School, Lynn, Massachusetts .
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S c h e d d e of Meetiliga
241st meeting, May 10, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts Ninth Summer Conference, August 18-23,1947, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts 0
Offieen for 1946-47
Eldin V. Lynn, President, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Boston 15; Dorothy W. Gifford, Secretary, Lincoln School, Providence 6, Rhode Island; Lawrence H. Amundsen, Editor of Report, University of ConnectiThe following amendment has been proposed to the cut, Storrs; Millard W. Bosmorth, Immediate Past Constitution of the New England Association of President; John R. Suydam, Vice-president; Carroll B. Gustafson, Treasurer; Leallyn B. Clapp, Southern DiviChemistry Teachers: sion Chairman; Helen Crawley, Central Division chairAmend Article IV, Section 2, to read: man; Jean V. Johnston, Western Division Chairman; The officers shall he elected a t the Annual Meeting. At the Lester F. Weeks, Northern Division Chairman: Ralph Annual Meeting the Nominating Committee shall present a slate of nominees. Further nominations may be made from the E. Keirstead, Curator; Elbert C. Weaver, Chairman, floor a t the Annual Meeting. Endowment Fund; S. Walter Hoyt, Auditor.
