ON THE CHEMISTET AND TOXICOLOGY OF FUNGI. 155 



pieces, and steeped them in the solution two hours, then draining 

 them and rinsing in fresh water. He then put them into cold, 

 pure water, and brought this to boil, keeping it boiling for half 

 an hour. Then again the mushrooms were drained, rinsed in 

 fresh water, and lastly dried in a cloth. They were then dressed 

 in some simple fashion and eaten by Gerard and his family, 

 proving to be quite harmless.^ It was thus shown that any of the 

 Amanites, however deadly in their natural state, could be rendered 

 eatable. But we must be careful not to assume, without farther 

 proof, that this method is efficient in the case of noxious mush- 

 rooms belonging to other subgenera or genera. 



Entoloma clypeata, and probably other Entolomes, contains an 

 essence which differs fi'om those of the Amanites. It begins to act 

 not until hours have elapsed after ingestion. The sjonptoms are 

 dizziness, vertigo, confusion of mind, partial paralysis, and even- 

 tually coma, ending in slow recovery or speedy death. There is 

 no irritant effect, or only slight and indirect, so the poison may 

 be classed as narcotic simply. The poisons of certain Hebelomes 

 seem to be similar, but slightly irritant as well ; whereas those 

 of Hypholomes are terribly irritant, and only slightly narcotic. 



Poisonous species of the genus Russula act with extreme rapidity. 

 No sooner is the mushroom swallowed, or even taken into the 

 mouth if raw, than the poison attacks the mucous membrane of 

 the throat and aasophagus. Russuline, so to call it, is frightfully 

 irritant. The Avhole tract of the alimentary canal becomes rapidly 

 inflamed ; there is vomiting, dysentery, and severe ulceration of the 

 bowels. Nervous derangement accompanies the latter stage. But 

 the very nature of the poison minimizes its effects. The system is 

 relieved by the vomiting and purging, and moreover, some amount 

 must be eaten to produce a fatal ending. It is to be noted, too, 

 as will be seen in the catalogue, that there are differences in the 

 nature of the poisonous species of Russula. Krapf could not 

 separate the poison from B. emetica by boiling or maceration, 

 whereas B. fragilis appears to be so rendered harmless, and is then 

 eaten about Nice. In the North of France, people seem to eat all 

 sorts of Russules promiscuously, but they soak them in vinegar 

 and water before dressing them. Probably this destroys the poison. 

 B. rubra is more narcotic in its effects than B. emetica, though both 

 are equally irritant. All the noxious Russules sting the tongue if 



' Ixcvue Scientijlque et InduUrielle, 1854, 



