is borne out by the fact that it was with difficulty that 
we were able to secure two dozen specimens. Johnson 
(9) has learned that certain “narcotic mushrooms” are 
of importance in Mazatec witchcraft, and it is probable 
that these also are referable to the genus Paneolus. 
The doses which the Indians employ vary with the 
size and age of the individual. Usually fifteen mushrooms 
are sufficient to induce the desired effect, but larger 
doses are reported. Overdoses of fifty or sixty mushrooms 
result in poisoning, while continued use of excessive 
quantities is said to produce permanent insanity. Wheth¬ 
er or not this is true could not be ascertained. 
According to Indian descriptions, the intoxication 
lasts about three hours. Shortly after ingestion of the 
mushrooms, a general feeling of exhilaration and well¬ 
being is experienced. This state of exhilaration is follow¬ 
ed within an hour by hilarity, incoherent talking, and 
later, is accompanied by fantastic visions in brilliant col¬ 
ors, similar to the visions so characteristic of peyote- 
intoxication (Lophophora William sii (Lem.) Coulter). 
Paneolus is known to be slightly poisonous and nar¬ 
cotic. With the exception of Mexican Indians, I am 
aware ot no primitive peoples who take advantage of the 
properties of this genus for intoxication. The effects of 
Paneolus have been studied (5,6,12) and the symptoms 
of the intoxication are similar to those of alcoholic-intox¬ 
ication. Ford (6) has divided mushroom-poisoning into 
five categories: the choleriform type (Amanitaphalloides 
(Fr.) Quel.); the nerve-affecting type in which occur 
convulsions and coma often resulting in death, (Amanita 
muscaria (L.) Pers. and other muscarine-containing 
forms); the gastro-intestinal type which is seldom fatal: 
the blood-dissolving type; and the cerebral type. Pan- 
eolus-intoxication belongs to the last category of poison¬ 
ings. It is characterized by exhilaration, fantastic visual 
[44] 
