DEAR RAJESH: BEFORE YOU entertain such emails that are forwarded and forwarded ... please ask questions whether you want to open it or entertain the message in it.. basic rule if its worth reading, somebody will sure send you a write up in their own words... or call you if they really wanted your well being... not circulate ssuilly emails... melodramatic hogwash....
This has happened here too often ... here.... THIS IS A HOAX..... AGAIN AND AGAIN I HAVE SAID THAT EDUCATED INDIAN SHOULD BE SMART ENOUGH TO NOT FALL PREY TO THESE..... YET some stupid overly sentimental jerk believes it and these things make the rounds.... AND WHY IS THIS LADY SOOOOOOOOO WORRIED ABOUT HER CHILDREN???/ MAY BE BECAUSE SHE LEAVES THEM WITH A BABY SITTER TO GO OUT NOT ONLY TO OFFICE (which is a necessity) but to see movies, to kitty parties to nites out with friends...!!!!!!!! STAY HOME WITH CHILDREN AND TEACH THEM AND YOURSELF SOME GOOD SENSE.... AND DO SOME RESEARCH..... if these ladies have a computer to receive and send out these silly emails she must have enough time and sense to do this research, it took me one second to type DIFFENBACHIA was introduced as houseplants when? by whom? thinking that I could find the long history... as a houseplant and allay the fears.... of the sender but second in the page of results was this URL: 1. 2. Killer *House Plant* Warning<http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CE8QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hoax-slayer.com%2Fkiller-house-plant-warning.shtml&ei=z4rYT-_YGaGsiAfsiZ2VAw&usg=AFQjCNGrxaWfBAA1aOBBOVq8BXfB8fttpg> www.hoax-slayer.com/killer-*house-plant*-warning.shtml 11 May 2010 – Message claims that an *indoor plant* that is commonly kept in homes and offices is *...* and in the body of that writing is this paragraph..... *I quote..*.. " The plant depicted in the photograph is in fact a dieffenbachia<http://houseplants.about.com/od/foliageplants/p/Dieffenbachia.htm> , a species commonly used as a potted house plant because of its attractive appearance and its suitability for indoor, low light intensity growing environments. Dieffenbachia is indeed poisonous to humans and animals if parts of the plant are ingested. Dieffenbachia is also known as "Dumb Cane" because of the toxic effect it can have on the mouth and tongue if chewed. However, this warning quite significantly exaggerates the risk of death associated with dieffenbachia poisoning. The results of dieffenbachia poisoning are normally not life threatening and victims usually make a full recovery. Given that eating the plant may potentially cause swelling severe enough to block the victim's airways, death *is* a possible result. However, research indicates that actual fatalities in humans are extremely rare. Certainly, there are no credible medical reports that back up the suggestion in the warning message that death is a common and very rapid result of dieffenbachia poisoning. An article discussing caladium, dieffenbachia, and philodendron plant poisoning published on the Emedicine website notes <http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1009003-overview>: * Patients with history of oral exposure (chewing and/or swallowing) have been reported to have severe swelling, drooling, dysphagia, and respiratory compromise, but this is not common. In a large retrospective study of 188 patients with plant oxalate exposure, all cases were determined to be minor and all resolved with minor or no treatment. Patients can also experience dermal and ocular exposure, resulting in contact dermatitis or keratoconjunctivitis. Symptoms that result from these routes of exposure also appear to resolve with supportive care. The serious complication of aortoesophageal fistula following ingestion of a dieffenbachia leaf in a girl aged 12.5 years has been described in a single 2005 case report. The girl recovered following surgical intervention. * And, the claim that rubbing your eyes after touching the plant can cause permanent blindness also seems to be an exaggeration. The Emedicine article notes <http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1009003-overview> that *"Ocular exposure may result in eye pain, redness, and lid swelling"*, but makes no mention of permanent blindness. Other medical articles describe dieffenbachia induced corneal injury<http://ukpmc.ac.uk/picrender.cgi?artid=1024685&blobtype=pdf>but again make no mention of permanent blindness....." end quote - Usha di ===========
