56 ON THE MEDICINAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL 



examination, the stomacli was found full of a thick, yellow mu- 

 cus. This organ and the duodenum, had livid spots on their 

 coats. In a second experiment, two of the A. hulhosus, Bull, 

 were given to a dog. These 2:)roduced vomiting, trembling, and 

 convulsive movements, accompanied with severe pain. In fact, 

 all the symptoms of apoplexy declared themselves. Tlie admin- 

 istration of vinegar did not relieve it permanently, and it died in 

 thirty hours after the introduction of the poison. The digestive 

 canal did not contain any of tlie plant, but the interior of the 

 stomach was touched with red spots, the mucus and muscular 

 coats of the intestinal canal were destroyed, and nothing remained 

 except the serous tunic. A half-ounce being given to another 

 dog produced true cholera and convulsions : the animal died 

 twenty-four hours after taking the poison. The strong liquid 

 produced by distillation of the plant, also destroyed dogs to which 

 it was administered. The watery extract produced death in less 

 than twenty-four hours. The tincture made by placing one plant 

 in r iss. of alcohol, was, likewise, equally destructive. See 

 Paulet, Traite des Champignons (Trans, from Orfila). 



In this, one of the most dangerous of the fungi, M. Vaquelin 

 found a yellow, soft, fatty matter, acrid to the taste, in which 

 appeared to preside the poisonous principle. Annal. de Chim. 

 XXXV. 33, Ixxv. .5, and Ixxix. 265. Exposed to intense heat, it 

 did not give out oxygen as other vegetables do, but azote and 

 hydrogen ; " thus confirming the almost animal nature of this 

 species of production." M. & De L., Diet, de Mat. Med. ii. 204. 



Agaricus vaginatus^ Bull, ■j Sheathed Agaric. AYoods and 



" j9?^^in'««/^<5. Bolt. |- pastures ; August to October; 



" plurnheus, With. ) South Carolina ! to Penn. 



Eaten in Russia, but according to some accounts, poisonous. 



"The very base solid; not acrid, insipid ; smell, scarcely any." 



Roques mentions, upon the authority of DecandoUe, the two 



synonyms as including two varieties, which are very delicate, 



and wliieh may be eaten with impunity. Hist, des Champs. Yen. 



359. The same autlior says the _il.j9?i/mJe?^, Bull, is poisonous. 



Hist, des Champs. 199. 



Agaricus ovoidcs, D. C. Fl. Fr. Su])plem. 502. ] 

 CoeoUa Bianca, Mich., Gen. PI. 185. ) 



Tins, and the A. ccBsareus, "appear to be the best of all the 

 esculent agarics." Tlie flesh is white, and it has a fine, delicate 



