Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 233, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1914 — WHY POISON IVY POISONS? [ARTICLE]

WHY POISON IVY POISONS?

French Scientist Discovers Cause in the Presence of Prussic "Acid In the Plant. Polson ivy has long been a mystery both to scientists and laymen; why and In what manner It causes the peculiar rash and irritating inflammation have puzzled both botanists and physicians. At last the reason has been discovered. Doctor Mlrande of Paris read to the Academy of Sciences in that city recently the result of his study of the poisonous weed. Poison Ivy contains prussic acid. This is found principally in the young leaves and buds; in older leaves there is very little of it. In three and one-half ounces of young leavea^there’ls about a quarter of a grain of the acid. As with other plants in which prussic acid is found, the poisonous substance does not exist in its perfect form, but develops as soon as the leaves are bruised, a chemical action being set up through the union of an enzyme with a glucosid.