ON THE CHEMISTEY AND TOXICOLOGY OF FUNGI. 157 



imisliroom might be unsafe " sometimes," no one knowing why or 

 how. But in Germany, where this species is largely eaten, and 

 greatly esteemed, both for its flavour and nutritiousness, the un- 

 certainty regarding it attracted much attention. Prof. Ponfick, 

 of Breslau, undertook a protracted series of experiments, and 

 succeeded in establishing the character of the species, at the same 

 time demolishing the theory of uncertainty and variableness. He 

 found in the species an essential principle which may for the 

 present be termed Lorcheline. This, however, is but sparingly 

 diffused in the plant, and is removable by boiling water. (See 

 Culinary Receipts, No. 112.) If eaten unboiled to the extent of a 

 quarter or half a pound, sickness would result, and death might 

 follow the consumption of a pound or two. But it is customary 

 on the Continent to scald mushrooms before cooking, and no doubt 

 that practice had some effect in minimizing accidents, as they had 

 occurred in small proportion to the quantity of Lorchels annually 

 consumed. When diied, too, the Lorchel slowly loses the poisonous 

 essence. It begins to disappear a month after drying, and in six 

 months the mushrooms are quite innocuous. Lorcheline, according 

 to Ponfick, is not narcotic, nor does it attack the mucous mem- 

 brane of the alimentary canal. It has specific action on the 

 kidneys, causing elimination of the red corpuscles of the blood, 

 and setting up acute nephritis and congestion o-f the spleen and 

 liver. 



From these examples it will be seen that the poisonous essences [ 

 of different Fungi are of very varied kind. It is evident they 

 must be discriminated, one from another. Little has yet been 

 done to ascertain their precise and varying qualities, and no more 

 can be added to what has just been said on this subject. But 

 there are sundry reasons why the examination of fungus prin- 

 ciples should be recommended to the notice of physicians, chemists, 

 and toxicologists. In the first place, some of these essences have 

 specific action. The example of Ergot should encourage further 

 research. For there may lurk in certain Fungi as yet undreamt 

 of agencies of a kind invaluable in medicine. Some of these 

 essences may have actions as unique and valuable as that of 

 Ergot, though of a different kind, and might prove to be weapons 

 of power in the struggle with disease. 



In certain instances it has been shown that the poisonous 

 essences are easily removable from the bulk of the plant, or that 

 they can be destroyed, neutralized, or rendered inert, or that they 



