58 



moit dangerous species, its poisonous principle is vei'y subtle, so 

 that chemists differ much as to its nature ; Letellier calls it 

 Amanitine. M. Boudier thus relates a case of poisoning : Two 

 ladies ate a considerable quantity of it for dinner ; some hours after 

 they were seized with a violent sickness and other symptoms, as 

 vertigo, which continued all that night ; great prostration followed, 

 with a total indifference of the patients to all around them, and 

 intense thirst ; towards the next night coldness of the extremities 

 ensued, and they both died in the night, or early the following 

 morning. M. Boudier says that no remedies produced any effect, 

 and he thinks the only thing to be done in such cases is to clear 

 the bowels of patients suffering from similar poisons at as early a 

 stage as possible. Small portions of this Agaric, and of several 

 others of the same section, given to cats and rabbits, caused a loss 

 of sensation, stupor, paralysis, and a cessation of the action of the 

 heart, death ensuing in from twenty minutes to four houi-s after 

 receiving the food, or if it be inserted beneath the skin a similar 

 result follows, according to Letellier. 45 gi-ammes of Agaricus 

 phalloides, Fi:, mixed with bread and meat, were given to a strong 

 cat ; they were consumed without repugnance ; after the lapse of 

 more than an hour the cat vomited mucus ; two hours later it fell 

 on its side, its feet moved convulsively, and death ensued in two 

 and a half hours. The heart was found to be gorged with black 

 and liquid blood. 



2. A. Muscarius, L. Kromb., t. 9. Grev., t. 54. This veiy 

 handsome species is of a rich reddish-orange colour clothed with 

 white warts, the remains of its envelope. It is frequent in sandy 

 districts near or under fig trees. Spye Park and Bowood. It is 

 intoxicating in its effects on man, seldom however fatal. 



3. A. Pantherinus, De CandoUe. Kromb., t. 29, figs. 10-13. 

 Has occurred at Leigh Woods, Bristol. It is a poisonous species. 



4e. A. Strobiliformis, Fries. Berkeley, Outlines of British 

 Fiingology, pi. 3, fig. 2. Batheaston. This species, although so 

 near systematically to the last, is esculent. 



5. A. Mappa, Batsch. Vittadini fanghi mangerecci, t. 11. 

 Kromb., t. 28, figs. 11, 12. Warleigh. Poisonous. 



The letter fej distinguishes such species as are esculent. 



