542 



POISONOUS AND EDIBLE FUNGI 



Classification of fleshy fungi according to toxic effect. 

 Toxicologists have classified poisonous fleshy fungi according to 

 the effects that thev produce upon the human system [Ford 

 (1926)]. On this basis they may be divided into the following 



groups: 



1. Fungi whose toxicity is first manifest 6 to 15 hours after in- 

 gestion and that cause degeneration of the nervous tissues and 

 glandular parenchymatous tissues, especially the liver. The clini- 



Conic 



Infundibuliform 



Umbonate Campanulate 



Fig. 59. Types of pilei of agarics in diagram, indicating variation in form 



used in ireneric determinations. 



cal symptoms consist of sudden seizure by severe abdominal 

 pains, accompanied by vomiting and diarrhoea. Abundant blood 

 and mucus appears in the vomitus and stools. The victim loses 

 weight rapidly, passes into a coma after 2 to 5 days, and succumbs. 

 Recovery is very rare. Poisoning of this type is caused by inges- 

 tion of Amanita phalloides, A. virosa, and A. verna, more rarely 

 by Pholiota autumnalis and Hygrophoms conic us. 



2. Funoi whose poisonous effects appear soon after ingestion 

 and that act chiefly by stimulating and then paralyzing the cen- 

 tral nervous system. Poisoning is manifest by profuse perspira- 

 tion and salivation, retching, and diarrhoea, accompanied by de- 

 lirium, hallucinations, and convulsions. The patient may die from 

 paralysis of respiration. This complex is caused mainly by Ama- 

 nita muse aria. Similar clinical symptoms may be induced by A. 

 pant her in a, Inocybe infelix, I. infida, and Clitocybe illudens. In 

 Siberia decoctions of dried A. muse aria are sometimes used to 



