MUSHROOM POISONIIS 



poisonous action if eaten l>\ others (Stellar & Erman). In regard 

 in the use <»i Amanita muscaria ;is a tl\ poison, D. R. Sumstine 

 (Penn.) reports thai the apparently < I » ■. i « I (lies revive full} in about 

 two hours. < Mm- dI our mycologists has Been them recover ai 

 two days. Tappeiner 80 states thai tlie il\ poison i- easih destroyed. 



Toxic Principles of Amanil 



I l.i rnisen's "Pilz-toxin" was oever confirmed. Ford agrees tl 

 .1. mu8caria owes its action to muscarin bu1 in place of the 

 poison hypothecated by Harmsen it contains also an hemolysin 

 (as in t . phalloide8) soluble in alcohol and a constantly pn »< ni ag 

 glutinin belonging to the glucosides. Agglutinins are bodies capa 

 ble <>r causing groupings, coherence or agglutination of i »l < »< >( l cor- 

 puscles when broughl in contacl with them. They acl directly on 

 the blood cells. Given Bubcutaneously the agglutinin of muscaria 

 always caused death in typical convulsions. Violenl cooking of 

 the plant, deadly withoul boiling, was Bhown to destroy both the 

 muscarin and agglutinin. Subsequenl studies of other fungi w< 

 based apon a Bearcfo for the actions of the four active agents thus 

 far enumerated. We have seen from the foregoing consideration 

 of two deadly toadstools thai Amanita phalloides contains two 

 poisons, ill an hemolysin which is thermolabile and also easily de- 

 stroyed by the digestive juices and (2) an Amanita toxin which is 

 the very definite and powerful poison <>!' the speci< Now in 

 Amanita muscaria we have Mi muscarin, ;i poison with its char 

 acteristic and individual physiological action, (2) hemolysin in 

 Bmall amounl and (3) an agglutinin. Agglutinins are nol com- 

 mon in plums. Ou1 <>r ninety-nine examined they were presenl in 

 four non-poisonous Papillionaceae and in six Daturas. Among 

 in fungi they were presenl in one-quarter, thermolabile in Bome, in 

 others heat-resistant. Thej resisted drying of the fungi better than 

 did the hemolysins and were found to lasl for years in dried I. m 

 caria. 



Amanita panthcrina, though rare or lacking in America, maj be 

 associated with A. muscaria since ii iv -.i i< I to be used in Japai 

 produce mushroom drunkenness. Muscarin has been i -< »1 ;i t »-. I from it 

 as from the Siberian fungus. Delirium, dilated pupils and hallucii 

 tions with visions of beautiful red, yellow and brown objects ; 

 dominate over the gastro-intestinal symptoms. L. panthcrina 

 ;ils<> used as ;i fly poison. Poisoning from it shows the usual .ill 

 mentary irritation coming on within a few hour* scitement, 



