ruNGi. 3=^ 



poisonous on account of their extreme acridity, are taken with 

 impunity, being extensively dried or pickled in salt or vinegar 

 for winter use. It is probable that this harmlessness arises from 

 the particular mode of preparation, for from the exact account 

 of Pallas, and the general diffusion of various species in various 

 countries, there is no reason to doubt the fact, that sorts justly 

 esteemed poisonous are really used; and it is well known that the 

 noxious qualities of that most virulent species, Agaricus vcrnus, 

 are communicated to brine, vinegar, c^-c, and that the Olive tree 

 Agaric\Q?n}?> .all its poisonous properties when salted, and becomes 

 eatable. The pickle is probably in general thrown away ; while 

 as to dried fungi, I have been informed by a gentleman of great 

 acuteness and observation, that in some town of Poland, where 

 he was detained as a prisoner, he amused himself with collect- 

 ing and drying the various fungi which grew within its walls, 

 amongst which were many commonly reputed dangerous, and 

 that, to his great surprise, his whole collection was devoured by 

 the soldiers. Indeed two poisonous principles have been dis- 

 covered in Fungi, one of which is so fugacious that it is dispelled 

 by heat, or the act of drying, or by immersion in acids, alkalies 

 or alcohol ; the other is more fixed and resists such processes ; 

 and it is well observed by the late Professor I3nrnett, in his 

 Outlines of Botany, § 725, " in certain situations, trnffhs, morels 

 and common mushrooins, are nearly flavourless, while in others 

 their grateful tastes and smells are highly developed ; and in 

 a similar way certain fungi, which are eatable in one country 

 or when gathered from one situation, are deleterious when 

 growing in another: this difference depending upon the greater 

 or less quantity of poisonous matter formed, the production of 

 which may be favoured or suppressed by external physical 

 circumstances, just from the same cause as Crhrg is said to be 

 poisonous and Sca-hdh; and Asparagus not eatal^le, when growing 

 wild, but whi<h become bland and esculent when chance (ir 

 culture, by ex( hiding light, prevents the formation of their arrid 

 principle." Jt is however the practice in some districts to use 

 fungi without any preparation wiuitcver, as in their siuiple state 

 tliey arc couNidered more wliolesomc and nutritious. This 

 practice is probably confined to kinds allied in their qualities to 

 Agaricus campesfris, and l^chwa»grichen assures us, in a letter 

 quoted by Pnsoon, that in consecjueiue of seeing the peasants 

 about Nuremb<M'g <'ating raw musliroows, seasoned with anise 

 and carawav-seed along with their black bread, he resolve<l t«» 

 try their effect himself, and that during several weeks he a(«» 

 nothing but bread and raw fungi, as livhtus cdulis. Agaricus 

 canijxsd is, Agai it us j)r<uri us, <{{'., and drank nothing hut water, 

 when instead of finding his health affected, he rather cxperiemed 

 an increase of strength. A few species are recorded as used in 



