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There is an almost universal belief among both laymen and physicians that dermatitis due to poison ivy may be acquired from contact with the smoke of the burning plant. In order to disprove this fallacious empiricism a person extremely sensitive to poison ivy was exposed to large volumes of smoke from this plant.
REPORT OF A CASE
R. S., a white boy aged 16, living in the house adjoining my own, has been observed during repeated attacks of clinically acquired ivy dermatitis. He is well known among the dermatologists of Dallas, Texas, because of his pronounced sensitivity.About 25 pounds (11.3 Kg.) of branches and leaves of Rhus toxicodendron radicans was gathered, and the oleoresin from a few leaves of the collected specimens was extracted with ether. Frankly positive cutaneous reactions were elicited on the chest, abdomen, arms, back and thighs of the volunteer when 1 drop of the oleoresin