Treatment

The symptoms caused by this plant are: First redness and swelling of the affected part, with intolerable itching and burning, followed by vertigo, weariness, and a sort of intoxication. Infiltration of the face and eyes, and agglutination of the lids after sleep; great restlessness, pain, thirst, and fever. The surface of the skin, after a time, becomes studded with confluent bullae where the cellular tissue is loose, then a dermatitis follows resembling erysipelas; this may spread rapidly and finally communicate to the mucous membranes. This is followed by swelling of the mouth and throat, cough, nausea, and vomiting. Rheumatoid pains develop about the joints, and a painful stiffness asserts itself in the lumbar region, while the legs and arms become numb. Confusion of mind and delirium may then set in during which the patient may become ill-humored, restless, and anxious that he will jump out of bed.

The concomitant symptoms are inflammation of the eyes, dilation of the pupil, weakness of vision, and sometimes diplopia; frequent epistaxis; brown coated tongue, with a triangular red tip; swelling of the parotid glands, with difficult deglutition; griping in the abdomen; diarrhoea; profuse urination; oppression; rapid pulse; great weakness, weariness, and prostration; soreness of the muscles, worse while at rest, and passing off when exercising; sleepiness; and chilliness, followed by fever and copious sweat.


There are almost as many antidotes recommended for Rhus tox. poisoning as for the bite of the rattlesnake. Prominent, however, among the applications are: Alkaline lotions, especially carbolate of soda, alum-curd, and hyposulphite of soda, keeping the skin constantly moist with the agent in solution. A strong infusion of red Sassafras root is strongly recommended. It is applied freely to the parts, and gives almost immediate relief, and this, too, when other remedies fail.

The fluid extract of serpentaria has been used in quite a large number of cases of rhus poisoning with great success. It is best applied by placing cloths moistened with the extract upon the affected parts without any friction.

The internal remedies most likely to prove beneficial are: Agaricus, Apis, Arnica, Belladonna, Bryonia, Croton tiglium, Graphites, Grindelia robusta, Ledum, Nymphoea, Sanguinaria, Sepia, or Verbena urticoefolia.