Plants that kill **IMPORTANT**

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gardendragon Ladysmith, BC(Zone 8a) Feb 12, 2001

I found this on a Canadian garden forum: icangarden.com and thought you all shoul be aware of this hazzard!

Extracted from New Zealand Herald, February 2001
http://www.exoticplants.org.uk

STUDY SAYS ROSE THORNS CAN KILL AND INJURE GARDENERS STREPTOCOCCUS PYOGENES which is present in soil and will kill if it enters your blood stream. The warning comes from Middlemore Hospital who claim that two patients developed "serious infections" as a direct result of rose thorns.

2 people have died and 5 have had fingers amputated. They warn people to always wash hands after touching soil, which is common sense. While handling or pruning roses, or any vine or plant with thorns, gardeners often get scratched by thorns, and serious illnesses like TETANUS, which live in the soil, can enter the wound. Any injury that breaks the skin can give access to the spores, including anything from a grazed knee when falling off your bike to a serious road accident. I myself, in March 1998, got speared in the hand by a bamboo cane, and the result was a swollen painful hand and blood poisoning. My doctor finally removed the splinter of wood and prescribed a course of treatment which cure me of a problem I am told could have been fatal. I'm certain I am not the only one who has had this problem.

Wise gardeners are aware of this risk, and keep up to date with their tetanus injections, but that is not true of all gardeners. I am writing this as a way forward to warn all gardeners of the above dangers, if it prevents one less illness, so much the better, so I am letting everyone know, I hope you do as well. Please copy & paste & forward to those people you love.

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Charrdonnay Vashon, WA(Zone 8a) Feb 13, 2001

Thanks for the warning, I often get snagged up and ignore it!

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Pete2 Richmond Hill, GA(Zone 8b) Feb 13, 2001

Thanks for letting us know about this.

Pete2

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