830 THE AGARICACEAE OF MICHIGAN 



ing. The man who had gathered the fungi- conducted the investi- 

 gator to the place and indicated the varieties gathered and what 

 had constituted most of the lot. These were Amanita phalloides, 

 with smaller numbers of Cantharellus, Amanitopsis vaginata and 

 a very few Russula emetica. 



The following group of cases is very typical. In September. 1911, 

 six persons were poisoned, two fatally, in Cleveland. The children, 

 aged four and six, had a little gravy and recovered after nausea, 

 vomiting and diarrhea. Mr. C, aged 67, ate some at supper, felt 

 bad during the night but ate more for breakfast! About noon 

 violent illness began with intense pain in the epigastrium, vomiting 

 and diarrhea with loss of control, clonic spasms and great prostra- 

 tion. Urinary suppression was obstinate and lasted till death, 

 three days after the first meal. Mrs. C, aged G5, ate one forkful 

 at the first meal but did not like the taste. Profuse vomiting and 

 diarrhea with great prostration began one hour after Mr. C.'s 

 symptoms. She recovered rapidly after two days. The daughter- 

 in-law, aged 40, ate at the second meal and, though feeling hot 

 and feverish, ate more at noon! Eight hours later she had exactly 

 the same symptoms as Mr. C. The physician arrived early on the 

 next day. He gave oil, began stimulations with strychnia, nitro- 

 glycerin, aromatic spirits of ammonia and, after removal to the 

 hospital, saline solution continuously and oxygen. Some improve- 

 ment was noted except that the heart action was weak and inter- 

 mittent and the extremities could not be kept warm. Hiccough 

 for two days, great agony and unconsciousness preceded death on 

 the seventh day. A son, aged 19, ate the second meal — breakfast. 

 Though feeling bad, he worked until 4 p. m. By 9 :30 he presented 

 the same symptoms as mother and grand-father. After ten days 

 of apparently as grave illness as theirs under "most terrific stimula- 

 tion" (nitroglycerin, strychnia, oxygen and salines) he was re- 

 ported out of danger though "looking like a corpse." "The fungi 

 were gathered from a shady hillside. Some were over six inches 

 acix>ss and white inside and out; others were yellow as saffron 

 through and through and about four inches across. Others were 

 white outside and 'brown under; some were small, white on top 

 and pink under." 9 The brief case histories leave no doubt as to 

 Amanita phalloides being the offender. The botanical notes admit 

 of considerable speculation. In every respect this report is preg- 

 nant with meaning— and full of food for reflection— for the student 

 of toadstool poisoning. 



Grouping the clinical histories from numerous sources the synip- 



