TY - JOUR T1 - REactions to poison ivy extract AU - Kligman AM Y1 - 1959/10/03 N1 - 10.1001/jama.1959.03010230090024 JO - Journal of the American Medical Association SP - 592 EP - 592 VL - 171 IS - 5 N2 - To the Editor:—  Swarts and Rourke (J.A.M.A.170:1409 [July 18] 1959) maintain that the selfadministration of Aqua Ivy tablets for prophylaxis of Rhus dermatitis is hazardous. Four members of one family developed cutaneous reactions after one tablet on three alternate days, and another patient developed purpura and joint swelling after a similar dose.I dissent strongly from the above-mentioned incrimination of Aqua Ivy as the cause of these reactions. Although I believe that this agent is not very helpful in prophylaxis, I am even more certain that it is essentially harmless. In my experience, Aqua Ivy is a weak antigen. None of my patients has complained of untoward effects when the tablets are used in the prescribed way. Lack of sidereactions is the outstanding quality which separates Aqua Ivy from the more potent Rhus allergens that I have studied experimentally (A.M.A. Arch. Dermat.78:47 [July] 1958). Furthermore, large SN - 0002-9955 M3 - doi: 10.1001/jama.1959.03010230090024 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1959.03010230090024 ER -