130 FUNGUS DISEASES OF MAN AND ANIMALS 



The amanito-toxin alone did not give rise to protective antibodies in 

 Ford's experiments. It was found to be neither a protein, an alka- 

 loid, a glucoside, nor a conjugate sulphate. 



Contrary to the experience of Ford, de la Riviere ^® found that the 

 toxin affects mainly the nervous system, spasmodic convulsions being 



Fig. 71. Amanita phalloides, the "Death Cup." The cup-shaped envelope 



(volva) about the base of the stem and the ring or collar about the stem 



near the cap are distinguishing signs. (White varieties, of which the above are 



an example, are sometimes known as A. verna.) 



the most prominent symptoms. Both authors, agree, however, that 

 the toxin is not bound by nerve tissue. A wide variety of animals, 

 from monkeys to fish, are susceptible. Sheep are apparently im- 

 mune to poisoning by mouth, but succumb to injections. De la 

 Riviere succeeded in obtaining an antitoxin (with the whole extract) 

 by immunizing horses. This not only protected laboratory animals 

 but was shown to have some therapeutic value in cases of human 

 poisoning. 



Green and Stoesser 2* have studied the effect of sodium ricinoleate 

 upon the toxins of A. phalloides. Whereas this soap destroys the 



