1915] Webster,— A rash Mycophagist 31 
ous in all popular books on edible mushrooms, no matter in what 
language they are written, or in what country published. Every- 
where, among the knowing, this tall brown columnar-stemmed, 
scurfy-capped toad-stool of grass land is hunted, gathered, cooked and 
duly consumed. With its white spores, free gills, ring and volva-less 
base'it is typical of the genus Lepiota, a genus which includes other 
species of the same harmless nature, and, to many, attractive flavor, 
such as L. Americana, L. rhacodes and L. naucina. Indeed the con- 
clusion is all too frequent that any toad-stool with the same botanical 
characteristics, any Lepiota, is safe to eat. In New England ex- 
perience would seem to show that it is not unsafe to assume this with 
regard to any of the species here found. 
In this case, however, a man whose experience was gathered during 
some years in New England changed his residence to Missouri. There 
in early September last a large Lepiota resembling L. procera, attracted 
attention and was gathered for the table. Its difference from the 
familiar species was recognized. Nevertheless, as all Lepiotas were 
thought to be edible, the collector ate one, and then he and others 
made a supper of them. In two hours several of the party were made 
violently ill, and until they recovered there was suspense and alarm, 
for it is no slight thing to be poisoned by a mushroom, when you are 
ignorant of the degree of virulence of the poison. 
What we know of the innocent or noxious qualities of mushrooms is 
largely empirical, and as regards the individual mycophagist is for 
the most part based on tradition and personal instruction and example. 
A few cautiously experiment like Professor Peck of Albany, or Mr. 
Macllvaine — him of the big book — with first a taste, then a mouth- 
ful, then, if undeterred, a courageous, trustful meal. And thus is 
extended the list of toadstools that man has eaten, and which, pre- 
sumably, man may eat again. 
In recent years some researches have been made in scientific labora- 
tories upon the chemistry and physiological action of mushroom toxins. 
Among such may be cited these of W. W. Ford! of Johns Hopkins 
University. The results of these researches confirms in the main 
popular experience and tradition. 
But what was the toadstool that the unfortunate New Englander 
ate? Judging from material preserved, it was probably Lepiota 
1 See, for summary and bibliography, Ford and Clark: ''A Consideration of the 
Properties of Poisonous Fungi,’’ Mycologia, Vol. VI. No. 4, July, 1914. 
