MUSHROOM POISONING 



,ll; " the hemolytic agent is not proteid (toxalbumin) bnl an easily 

 decomposed glucoside, insoluble in alcohol, ex t rem el; sensitive 

 beat, to small traces of acid, to pepsin :1ml pancreatin, and thai 

 it can therefore plaj do role in poisoning in man when the fungi 

 are cooked, h maj be a factor if large quantities are eaten 1 

 or insufficiently cooked, or if through deranged digestive action 

 the hemolysin escapes destruction." It is present in Bucb 

 amount that under such circumstances the possibility ol its having 

 a poisonous action cannot be eliminated. The Amanita-toxin linn 

 s " little in Common with alkaloids that thej besitate to class it 

 with them." Amanita toxin is the alcohol-soluble active principle, 

 the essential poison, resisting the action of heat, of drying and ot 

 the digestive juice's, and reproduces in animals the lesions found 

 in phalloidea intoxication in man. Chemically it cannol be char 

 acterized definitely, but the purest preparations do ool give the 

 reactions of either proteins, glucosides or alkaloids. Babbits are 

 not affected by various extracts i>\ mouth, both the hemolysin and 

 Amanita-toxin being quite innocuous t<> them, when one-fortieth 

 of the amount was fatal when given subcutaneously. Dogs and 

 cats are poisoned by the cooked fungus in the same degree .1- human 

 beings. The raw hemolysin given subcutaneously has pronounced 



1,1 l-dissolving properties, giving the picture of a hemolytic in 



toxication with extreme haemaglobinuria and pigmentation 

 the spleen. [These are the properties assigned to the European 

 Helvetia (Gyromitra) esculenta.] Even when made from dried 

 specimens of Amanita phalloidea hemolysin will dissolve the red 

 blood .-ells of guinea pigs, rabbits, fowls, pigeons, dogs ml 



man. Swim-, sheep and beef bloods are Dot susceptible. The 

 blood of the guinea pig is most susceptible and that of tin 

 least. When this hemolysin is heated to 140 I", it loses some "i 



its activity, and 150 maintained for (-half hour, bus 



pends it. 1 Hence the term "thermo-labile.") It m.n be classed 

 xv i ,!| the bacteria] hemolysins. Injection experiments on animals 

 Bhow iis extreme toxicity. Within a tew hours the fur ruffles and 

 they refuse in eat. There is rapid l"-- of weight and strength, 

 death occurring within one to three days under greal dyspnex 

 The heart stops last. In smaller doses ;i chronic intoxication 

 produced tasting three, four or sis weeks. Convulsions are nn 

 usmil ;iml there is no salivation or gastro-intestinal disturbs 

 in contrast to muscarin poisonii equently, even in 1. /</»<// 



loides, the hemolysin is present only in Bmall amounts and it n 

 be absent whereas the edible 1. solitaria and 1 ontain 



