MUSHROOM POISONING 



tomatologj of phalloides intoxication m.i\ l"- < I < ■-• ■ r 1 1 n •. I . When 

 due i" the deadly Amanita alone the clinical symptoms are p 

 ally always the same and are characteristic. ertheless l\ 



EVERY CASE OF POISONING the etiology, I -• . WHAT 

 FUNGUS has BEEN EATEN Bhould bj all means be di 

 mined ;ii the earliest possible moment! Why? Sol onlj f< 



scientific importance to myco-toxieolog} but i • 



guidance as to what treatmenl is indicated and required and 

 very especially whal the outlook maj be for the patient, it i 

 phalloides can be ruled < > u i the prognosis at once becomes v< 

 much better and useless fears maj be allayed. The sufferer is en 

 titled i" this. Uneaten fungi should be submitted to competi 

 authority, more should be gathered from the sources whence the 

 Buspected species were derived, and the opinion of the patienf or 

 of sonic one who gathered them with or for him as to their identity 

 with those eaten, obtained. Returning to symptomatology: \ 

 ingestion there is a prodromal stage of from six to fifteen hourt 

 generally over ten —in which little or qo discomfort is felt Then 

 follows ;i sudden seizure of extreme abdominal pain, cramp-like in 

 character, accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea of undigested 

 food, with blood and mucus. Discharges Boon become cholera-like 

 (serous) or rice-water in character. There is burning, consuming 

 thirst. Anuria is usual; constipation rare. Prostration and 

 sleeplessness, with the greaf nervous restlessness of weakness and 

 suffering, arc conspicuous. Muscular spasms in various groups 

 are frequent, accompanied by cries or screams of pain, i 

 strength is rapid ami excessive. Periods of pain and vomiting 

 alternate with remissions and ameliorated symptoms. Baei 

 lobinuria does not occur. Within a few days jaundice, cynno 

 and coldness of the skin and extremities develop followed bj | 

 found coma from which the patienf does not rally. Ocular synip 

 toms, tin 4 pupils varying, and convulsions arc rare but maj occur. 

 Convulsions are often terminal, and death is due to cardiac failure. 

 The course of the disease requires from four to six days in children 

 and eighf to ten in adults bul death maj occur within t^ hour- if 

 large quantities of the fungi have been eaten or they have not lx 

 thoroughly cooked. These points Bhould be weighed I 

 prognosis. The resemblance of the clinical picture to that of i In 



and to acute yellow atrophj of the liver has often I n remarl 



Atypical features occur especially in cases where Imanita phal 

 loides was not proven to have been the sole etiological 8uco 



cases may show dilated pupils, clear cerebration, albuminui 



