MUSHROOM POISONING Ml 



muscaria acts in ;ill animal experiments as .1 convulsant and do 

 other agaric shows similar action, ool even the closely related 1. 



frost in mi. 



Treatmenl for Vmanita muscaria Poisoning 



-1 1 1 -<i as in cases of I. phalloides intoxication, ii is the important 

 duty of physician and Friends to gel all the information possible 

 as i" the exacl oature of the toadstool eaten and the amount in- 

 gested. // will In shown beloic Unit <i number 1 

 milill!/ toxic or simply deleterious and minimi, sunn , <-,in prod 

 a more or less typical picture 0) muscarin intoxication. Con Anna 

 tion lit' the species will therefore be of greal value in determining 

 prognosis and in giving a clew to antidotal treatment. The out- 

 look in poisoning by the fly agaric is more hopeful than when the 

 Destroying Angel (A. phalloides) has been ingested, the mortality 

 runs much lower, the illness is briefer and the Buffering less cruel 

 though bad enough. We do do! have here the chronic and degenera 

 tive Lesions produced by the white Amanita which defer death or 

 prolong convalescence. The muscaria intoxication is acute, comes 

 on Boon after eating the fungus, develops rapidly and is amenable 

 tn treatment. Recovery often occurs without untoward symptoms. 

 Lachrymation, salivation, contracted pupils, delirium, hallucina- 

 tions, and coma call for atropin in large doses Bubcutaneouslj or 

 intravenously. Even thougb the vomiting and diarrhea are pro 

 nounced, the stomach and bowels Bhould !»•• further emptied by 

 the free use of emetics and purgatives, for parts of the fungus 

 often found in the canal post-mortem when profuse emptying seem 

 ed t<> have taken place. <>n accounl of coma, apomorphine Bubcut- 

 aneously is less ap1 to work, and other means of emptying the 

 stomach should be begun early (stomach tube, mustard, zinc >nl 

 phate, sulphate of copper). In cases with bad heart action, respi- 

 ratory distress and coma, atropin (intravenously) offers the only 

 hope, though many other measures, as mentioned under I. /</"// 

 loides treatment, should no1 be aeglected. .\l>->">lut«- recumbent 

 is enjoined. Sustain the heart. < ; i\ <■ nitroglycerin for cold 

 skin and extremities, and drj heat. 24 \ ■ :-• »| » i n is not medically in- 

 dicated in every case, and l: < > < » . i nursing may easilj 1 f . 



importance to tide over periods of weakness and depression Nour- 

 ishment should be concentrated. Tannic acid is use 

 water bad. Transfusion <>f blood, oxygen and galvanism, Ii 

 been suggested. 



The fly Amanita possesses interest in several other 1 



