24 OMENSETTER : FUNGI. 



The deleterious principle common to toxic fungi of the 

 second group is muscarine, above named. 



Acting upon the nerve ganglia of the heart, a frequent 

 result of its absorption is cardiac inhibition, which may be 

 controlled by atropine. 



Owing to the presence of other toxins, life generally ceases 

 in two or three days after poisoning begins. 



Toward counteracting late effects, physiological salt solu- 

 tion (.6 per cent, table salt), in conjunction with other reme- 

 dies, has been recommended.''- 



The experiments would seem to show that Amanita phal- 

 loides is much more fatal than A. miiscaria. 



Toadstool poisoning differs from most poisonings in the 

 long time elapsing before death in fatal cases. 



No statement can be made as to the cause of this late 

 death, but it would appear to be due to some disturbance of 

 nutrition. 



Late death occurs not only in animals, but in most of the 

 cases of poisoning in man recorded in medical literature. 



In the case of Amanita plialloidcs, the serious symptoms 

 appear earh^ and continue till the end. 



With Amanita muscaria, the early effect of the muscarine 

 soon passes off or can be removed by atropine, but the late 

 symptoms still prevail and remain until death. 



*Delol)el, in " Presse niedicale," September 3otli, 1899, reports a 

 remarkable case of recovery after the injection of a large amount of 

 normal saline soh;tion. A man, aged fifty-two, ate some A. phalloides. 

 Two full doses of atropine were given liypodermicallj', as well as 10 cc. 

 of ether, and 200 cc. of strong coffee with 20 cc. of rum were given by 

 the mouth and hot bottles applied externally. The patient becoming 

 worse, one liter (one quart) of normal saline solution was injected hypo- 

 dermically. Improvement began in fifteen minutes after the injection, 

 and the patient went to work the next day. 



