development of symptoms is often confusingwhen an attempt is made to determine the timeor location where the contact with the plantoccurred. The itching sensation and subsequentinflammation that usually develops into wateryblisters under the skin may continue for severaldays from a single contamination. Persistence ofsymptoms over a long period is most likely causedby new contacts with plants or by contact withpreviously contaminated clothing or animals.Severe infection may produce more serioussymptoms that result in much pain throughabscesses,enlarged glands, fever, or othercomplications. Secondary infections are alwaysa possibility in any break in the skin that occurswhen the watery blisters break.With poison ivy, the next development isusually the appearance of a scabrous, deep redrash over large skin areas. With poison, sumac,it is usually the appearance of large blisters, filledwith a thick yellowish white liquid stronglyresembling pus. When the blisters break, thisliquid runs over adjacent skin areas and, thus,enlarges the area of infection.The resinous juice exuded by these poisonousplants is almost entirely nonvolatile; that is,nonevaporating or will not dry up. Consequently,the juice may be carried on clothing, shoes, tools,or soil for long periods. In this way, it may infectpersons who have actually not come into contactwith the plants themselves. Individuals have, infact, been severely infected by juice carriedthrough air by smoke from burning plants. Otherpersons have been infected by resinous juice beingcarried on the fur of animals.Figure 12-29.-Poison oak (leaves and fruit).To avoid contact with the plants themselves,you must have an idea of what they look like.Poison ivy has a trefoil (three leaflet) leaf, asshown in figure 12-28. The upper surface of theleaflet has a shiny, varnished appearance. Thevariety called poison oak has a leaflet with aserrated, or lobed, edge like that of an oak leaf,as shown in figure 12-29. Ordinary poison ivy isFigure 12-28.-Different varieties12-29of poison ivy leaves.
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