You've got to be careful with the silky oaks. They have some sort of toxin in them that causes contact dermatitis. Some people are sensitive to it, others less so... but it builds up in your body so that everyone at some point will have had enough. We have quite a lot of them in australia.
I never had a reaction to them, and cut a lot down. Used to laugh at the guys who had problems with them. I used to get called in to climb them for other guys sometimes who had a reaction. Last year I started getting a reaction. Just a small one at first - a rash, and itching. It got worse, but I dont cut them that often so I thought I could get away with it.
Late last year I did a very large dead one and took a dustbath in it all day long, very dusty cutting, and very dusty chipping. On my way home I was scratching like crazy, but went home and had a shower. Had a few beers and went to bed. Woke up a couple hours later having a hard time breathing. Went to the bathroom and my face looked like I was about 60 (I'm 34). Blew up to the size and shape of a soccerball, huge bags under my eyes, wrinkles and splotches all over. It was unbelievable. My throat was closing up.
Went to the hospital and they gave me shots. They also gave me some kind of strong immuno suppressant and anti hystamine and something else, for 6 weeks, with instructions not to try anything tricky, like tying my shoelaces. They weren't kidding, those drugs make you dumb as a sackfull of hammers. Side effects include blurred vision, lack of ability to concentrate, short term memory loss, loss of balance etc...
My skin was constantly burning, day and night for about a month. I had to physically fight the urge to scratch, or I would have taken my skin right off. I'd get in the shower and burn myself untl I screamed every couple hours, but the sensation was so relieving. Just putting a shirt on was excruciating. Even moving around with a shirt on would send you into shivers.... or a light breeze without one. Once it was over, I swore to never cut another one. My skin still cralws at the thought.
Shaun
