<html> <head> <style></style></head> <body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'> Hi Everyone, I wanted to know if pianos could have anything that could cause an alergic reaction namely swelling hives and itching on hands.  I've been trying to trace my tracks to find out what I could have touched that would cause this.  I don't have any food algeries because I had alergy tests last year. Ragweed and grass is the problem.  I found some firewood at the curb when passing someons house and snatched it up, but I've handled firewood lots of times throughout my life and had no problems.  I even split fire food with a sledge hammer. Does that scare any of you out there since I 'm alegall blind guy.   Pine sap bothers me but not like this.    On Friday when I finished up tuning a nice Pramberger console I either didn't realze or forgot that a little metal thing that the piano owner put on or was there originally, not certain,  the foot of the bench to keep it from damaging the floor fell off and landed with the pointy part up. I kneeled down to take off the bottom panel in order to adjust the muffler rail pedal and I kneeled on that sucker the metal pointy things.  It hurt like  a you fill that in. lol  I didn't think anything of it. I finishedup and went to the bathroom to wash hands etc like I always do when I finsh at a customers house, force of habit because I've grown so accustomed to taking public transit and sometimes the wait is long.  Anyway I had bled onto my pant leg on the knee and didn't think anything of it. I went home and took care of it. Could something from that metal thing gotten into my system and caused the hives on both hands and legs too a day later?  I did have a tetanus shot 5 years ago.  Fortunately my neice is a physician cardiac assistant and called in a perscription for me some steroid medication. Im still itching some when I handle things or use hot water, but have any of you ever had this happen?  I've been cut by piano wore I don't know how many times and even brass center pins and didn't have a reaction.  This was so weird.  thanks Marshall 215-510-9400 <a href="http://www.phillytuner.com">http://www.phillytuner.com</a>   </div></body> </html>