2\ 



Auother case, wherein tbe aiitiigouism of iitroi)iii lor imiKCiiriu was 

 demonstrated, was brought to our notice during the month of Sejjtember 

 of the past year. An entire party of people were badly poisoned by eat- 

 ing mushrooms, and, althougli a doctor was callo<l in very late, most of 

 them were saved by the use of sul))liate of atropin. 



It would seem from the foregoing cases that the intensity and action of 

 the mushroom poison must depend in some degree on the constitution of 

 the individual, as well as on the (piality and (juantity of the mushrooms 

 eaten. The first treatment should be to get rid of the poison immediately 

 and by every possible means, so as to prevent or at least arrest the prog- 

 ress of inflammation of the alimentary canal, and at the same time to pre- 

 vent the absorption of the poison. In a majority of cases the recovery 

 of the victim depends solely upon the promptness with which vomiting 

 is excited. Vertigo, convulsions, spasms, and other grave nervous symp- 

 toms, which ordinarily follow the cessation of the most important func- 

 tions, yield, ordinarily, to the action of an emetic without the necessity of 

 ulterior remedies, if taken in time, while the substance is yet in the stom- 

 ach; when it has entered the lower bowels purgation is necessary. Sweet 

 oil should always be taken in combination with castor oil, or such other 

 purgatives as are used. Enemas of cassia, senna, and sulphate of mag- 

 nesia have also been used with good effect. 



The fatal poisoning of Count Achilles de Vecchj, in November, 1897, by 

 eating the Amanita muscaria, is so fresh in the public recollection, and the 

 details in regard to it were so widely published through the newspaper 

 press, that it is unnecessary to take up sjjace in recapitulating the cir- 

 cumstances. 



The death of Chung Yu Ting, in 1894, was occasioned by eating mush- 

 rooms which he had collected in a patch of woods near Washington, D. 

 D., and which I identified at the time as Amanita phalloides, sometimes 

 called the "Death Cup."' He had eaten very freely of this mushroom and 

 died after great suffering, although ten hours had elapsed before the toxic 

 effects began to show themselves. 



Since it has been shown that vinegar and the solution of common salt 

 have the power to dissolve the alkaloids of the poisonous mushrooms, it 

 follows that the liquor thus formed must be extremely injurious. It should, 

 therefore, be obvious that vinegar and salt should not be introduced into 

 the stomach after poisonous mushrooms have been eaten. The result 

 would only be to hasten death. Ether and volatile alkali are also attended 

 with danger. A physician should in all cases be promptly t-alled, and, if 

 muscarirt poisoning is suspected, hj'podermic injections of the sulphate 

 of atropin, the only chemical antidote known to be efficacious, should be 

 administered, the dose being from .i,, up to :,'r, of a grain. Small doses 

 of atropin can also be taken internally, to accelerate heart action. To 

 relieve the pains and irritation in the abdomen sweet oil and mucilaginous 

 drinks should be given. 



