Blackthorn nasty nasty

[armchairarborist]

im pretty sure its blackthorn that can give a mild form of blood poisoning, i'd rather have a hawthorn to play with anyday:crying:

[geoff]

Get it checked out Littletree,on rare occasions they can give blood poisoning.

[Rich Rule]

try soaking a pad in boiling water with loads of sugar added. strap it on overnight and sometimes the pad/sugar combo draws out the thorn.

 

Welders gauntlets are great for spike bits.

[tommer9]

Recent research (according to the doc last time i was in hospital after blackthorn) suggests that there nothing inherently poisonous in blackthorn, its what is on the thorn that goes mouldy in your hand!

(not sure how thats of any help lol)

[Big 'Ammer]

This thread has reminded me to go and give the sloe gin a shake up!

[jump-it]

i second the welders gauntlets! not the cheap crappy ones tho, got to somewhere like boc, i got some winter ones, cost about £7 and are double insolated. they are great and last well! ended up getting loads for the other guys on the team when we were clearing tree belts and haveing to put everything through the chipper!

[monkeyboy]

Sneaky stuff that Blackthorn Littletree!

Had an attack of the sausage fingers after reducing a thorn hedge on a building site in mid September. Same symptoms as you described with a burning sensation like a lighter being held under my palm. After two days went to minor injuries and was given a course of antibiotics and told to follow that up with ibruprofen for two weeks if the swelling continued.

Fingers still not fully mobile though.

My girlfriend; who's a nurse, recommends regularly applying moisturiser to your hands which coaxes the thorn out.

[penfold]

i know for laying hegdes especially any of the thorns, the old timers used to wear a horsehide mitt which you might be able to get made up by a local saddler or some made out of chromed leather

[Bob Slade]

get a bic biro, (clear plastic ones are the best) take it apart, put the big open end over the hole and then suck the thorn out. works a treat.

[elicokiz]

Not trying to be a scare-monger but I remember reading that tetanus bacteria can be driven into a thorn wound, also had many students over the years who have developed mild blood poisioning from blackthorn splinters, so get checked out littletree. Also remember reading that there are drawing ointments such as ichthammol which can be put on the skin to entice the little blighters out; as far as I can remember many have antibacterial properties too?may be worth a try:001_smile:

get better soon

Dave

Edited November 11, 2010 by elicokiz
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