BLACK-SPORED AGARICS 



Ford, in 1907, stated that no cases of poisoning have ever re- 

 sulted from the use of any of the purple-spored or black-spored 

 Agarics. I am of the opinion that a good many cases of the milder 

 type have been caused by both Coprinus and Panaeolus. It will 

 come as a shock to the lovers of the old reliable "inkies" to find 

 them candidates for the increasing cohort of poisonous fungi. 

 Their reputation has been as fair as their spores are black. That 

 of the "shaggy mane" has been traced back to Pliny. 



In "Good Housekeeping" (October, 1910) Dr. Clegborn tells of 

 ten people in four families accustomed to using ink caps, being 

 made ill on three different dates by Coprinus comatus. The appear- 

 ance was as of one intoxicated. There was failure of muscular coor- 

 dination, standing being difficult and walking impossible. Drowsi- 

 ness, loss of emotional control, bloodshot eyes, enlarged pupils, inco- 

 herent or inappropriate speech were the symptoms coming on in a 

 few minutes or hours after eating. There was no prostration and 

 heart and lung action were strong and regular. One patient com- 

 plained of the apparent bending and swaying of the furniture. One 

 had a temporary complete paralysis of the left arm. Practically no 

 food had been eaten but the ink-caps. Prof. John Dearness 5S sug- 

 gests Panaeolus campanulatus as the cause in these cases but in 

 view of the circumstances reported this hardly seems likely. De- 

 troit cases of unpleasant effects — more than an acute indigestion — 

 have been reported from taking beer with a meal of G. comatus. I 

 have also known of four cases in which flushed face, bloodshot eyes 

 and rapid and distressing heart action followed the eating of G. 

 atramentarius. In two of these cases no alcoholic beverage had been 

 taken. In the other two, only a very small amount to which the 

 individual was accustomed. Further reports concerning the inkies 

 are desirable. 



Ford 22 has examined Panaeolus retirugis only. It is regarded as 

 edible by all authorities but is similar to P. papiJionaceus which 

 though edible, has been known to produce a peculiar intoxication. 

 He found no hemolysin or agglutinin. Fatal to guinea pigs and 

 postmortem negative. P. campanulatus, classed as poisonous by 

 Murrill, is eaten by Mcllvaine. Its bad reputation goes back to 



