Plant Toxicity and Dermatitis

This book, written by two pharmacologists, attempts to cover the entire field of plant poisoning and is directed more to the general physician than to the dermatologist. The initial chapter deals with emergency and supportive care of acute poisoning, such as emptying the stomach, control of diarrhea, management of coma, convulsions, shock, and dermatitis. The following nine chapters discuss more specifically plants which are gastroenteric irritants, including the mouth and throat, plants producing cardiovascular disturbances, those having a nicotine-like effect, atropine containing plants, plants affecting primarily the central nervous system, cyanogenetic plants, liver damaging plants, poisoning by mushrooms, miscellaneous poisonous plants, and finally, plants causing dermatitis. Of the 217 pages of text, only 33 are of primary concern to the dermatologist. The book is well organized, plants are listed both by their botanical and common names, and there are extensive references, including 123 references to dermatitis-producing plants. Illustrations are of excellent quality, consisting of 78 full-page clear-cut black and white sketches, showing leaf patterns, flowers, and in many instances fruit or seed pods.