POISONOUS FUNGI. The number of fungi for merly considered poisonous was very large; in vestigation, however, has proved that many so regarded are not merely innocuous, but are good for food. The results are that not a few old beliefs have been upset, and others are made to totter. Poisonous fungi may be divided into two groups: those that contain local irritant poisons, which quickly act on the alimentary tract; and those that contain poisons which, after the lapse of several hours, act on the nerve centres. Members of the first group, though exceedingly disagreeable in their effects, pro duce no serious disturbance, and unless eaten in very large quantities or by persons in ill health, need not be considered dangerous. The administration of an emetic, followed after ac tion by doses of sweet oil and whisky, or sweet oil and vinegar, is recommended. Unfortunately, members of the second group give no warning of their harmfulness either by an unpleasant taste or by local action on the digestive tract, and toxic quantities of the poison are usually ab sorbed before symptoms appear. Should a poison ous Amanita be eaten by mistake or through carelessness, "take an emetic at once, and send for a physician, with instructions to bring hy podermic syringe and atropine sulphate. The dose is of a grain, and doses should be continued heroically until the of a grain is administered, or until, in the physician'a opin ion, a proper quantity has been injected. Where the patient is critically ill, of a grain may be administered." The treatment is effective only when the first symptoms manifest them selves, and not when late effects of the dangerous toadstool poisons are evident.
The species illustrated and described herewith have, until recently, been considered poisonous, but some of them are either merely innocuous, injurious to only certain individuals in the same way that strawberries are, or are even more gen erally wholesome. Every one, even the fungi ex pert, should consider himself a novice until he has personally determined these two points.
(1) Fly animita or fly mushroom (Amanita muscaria), common in woods, especially of pine and birch, has a cap four or more inches broad, which, in its varieties, exhibits many colors blood-red, bay-brown, orange, lemon, white, and the tint of cooked liver. Usually the skin, which is at first thick (sticky in damp weather), checks more or less and peels in angular fragments. The flesh is yellow just beneath the skin, otherwise white and rather loose. The stem, which is white, scaly, long, stout, but soon hollow, is bulbous at the base, and bears a very soft torn frill or ring close to or even at its summit. The gills are white, sometimes yellow. This species is every where reported as poisonous, but is said to be eaten by the Siberians to produce a sort of in toxication. Its name, musearia, is derived from its property of killing flies. (2) Satan's mush room (Boletus satanus) is a somewhat rare species which grows in woods. Its cap, three to eight inches across, is usually brownish, yellow, or whitish, and rather sticky; tubes yellow, with bright red mouths, which later become orange; stem two or • three inches long, thick and reticulated above. Its flesh, which is whitish,
turning to reddish or bluish where injured, is mild, reputed poisonous, but eaten without dis comfort by many. Since its evil effects seen: to vary with the individual who partakes, it should either be avoided or tested with extreme care. (3) The emetic mushroom (Russula emeti c:a) has a cap three to four inches broad, rosy, changing to blood-red, then tawny; sometimes yellow at first and later white. Its shape changes from bell-form to flat, or with a depressed centre, and a furrowed tubular margin. The gills are white, rather free, broad, and distant. Reputed to be emetic and poisonous, but eaten with im punity by many. (4) Ruddy milk mushroom (Lactarius rufus) is a rare species which grows in damp woods and swamps. Its cap is two to four inches broad, at first convex, later concave, usually shining brownish-red; gills narrow, some times forked, yellowish or reddish; stem, two to four inches long, lighter than the cap; flesh, pinkish, extremely acrid, reputed very poisonous. (5) Trellised clathrus (Clathrus cancellatus), a reputed poisonous fungus of beautiful red, white, or yellowish lattice-like form, and of very offen sive odor. The latticed part rises from a white or fawn-colored cup. (6) Fiery Boletus (Boletus piperatus), a common but variable species in woods and open places, is one to three inches in diameter, yellowish, light-brown, or reddish, con vex or almost flat, on a stein one and one-half to three inches tall, reddish or bright yellow at its base. The flesh, white or yellowish, loses its acrid peppery flavor when cooked. Though re puted poisonous, this species has been eaten with enjoyment by many. (7) Deadly agaric, deadly amanita, (Amanita phalloides), a com mon and very variable species found in woods from June until frost, is one of the most poison ous of mushrooms. The cap is three to four inches across, shining white, lemon, grayish brown, blackish-brown, or grayish-brown with a black disk sometimes dotted, viscid in damp weather; stem, three to five inches long, some times much longer, white and rather smooth, hol low above, larger, solid, and bulb-like below, rising from a sort of cup—hence the name 'death cup'; and bearing near its summit a reflexed, swollen, white, usually entire ring; gills white, free. This species is perhaps most dangerous, because most often mistaken for the common mushroom (Agaricus campestris). Since it grows in the woods, has white gills, white spores, and a cup-like base, the collector is to blame if he makes any mistake: the common mushroom does not grow in the woods, has pink gills, dark spores, and no cup at its base. (8) Spring mush room (Agarieus or Amanita vernus), considered to be a variety of the preceding, which grows in similar places, but during spring and summer.