80 ON THE MEDICINAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL 



Agaricus Pyrogalus, Bull, and Koques. 



Small-Zoned Agaric, Grows in Avoods ; August. 



Orfila describes it as poisonous. Traite des Poisons, iv. 426 ; 

 Leg. de Med. Leg. pi. 18, f. 2. The milky juice is sweet, but ex- 

 tremely acrid. Roques places it among the poisonous species. 

 Hist, des Champs. 198. 



Agaricus quietus.^ Fr. 



" Odor oily, and sometimes like that of bugs." Berkley's 

 Cryjot. England. 



Agaricus piperatus,Sco]^.,4A9 ', Koques; Berk. Crypt, 

 " amarus, Schoeff., t. 83. 

 " acris, J). C. Fl. Fr. 375. 



Laetarius {see A. pip. supra). 



Pepper Agaric. "Woods ; July and August ; S. Carolina ! to 

 Penn. 



Though very acrid when raw, it loses its bad qualities entirely 

 by cooking, and is extensively used on the continent, prepared in 

 various ways. It is preserved for winter use by drying, or pick- 

 ling in a mixture of salt and vinegar. Cr^^jt. Eng. Fodere 

 mentions that this species continues acrid after it has been dried 

 (Med. Legale, iv. 61), which tends to refute the idea that all are 

 safe when dried. It is stated that it is eaten in Prussia and Rus- 

 sia, but that it is poisonous in France (Haller, Hist. Stirp. Helv. 

 Indig. ii. 328), — probably the species described by Orfila under 

 this name as poisonous. Traite des Poisons, iv. 425 ; Legons 

 Med. Leg. pi. 19, fig. iv. Koques says that all parts contained a 

 viscid milk, abundant, and very acrid, which Bauhin had shown 

 to possess an irritating action upon himself; which M. Koques 

 had occasion to confirm by his own experience. Upon one occa- 

 sion he bruised one and tasted a j)ortion, which caused a burning 

 sensation over the whole throat. Plenk says that it irritates the* 

 tunics of the stomach, provoking cardialgia, and even causing 

 death. Koques has eaten them when boiled. 



This agaric contains a gelatinous principle, and a milky fluid, 

 which becomes concrete, and dissolves perfectly in alcohol. The 

 resulting tincture is of a beautiful golden color. By the analysis 

 of Braconnot, it fm'nishes albumen, adipocire, crystals of sugar, 

 acetate of potash, etc. Dr. Dufresnoi assures us that he has given 

 it with success in the first stage of phthisis. This plant should 



