CHAPTER V 



POISONING FROM FUNGI 



That fungi of various kind are injurious, was known to the ancients. 

 Prof. Ford * says, "The most interesting cases of mushroom or, as commonly 

 described, toadstool poisoning and one of the first authentic cases on record, 

 occurred in the family of the Greek poet, Euripedes, who lost in one day, wife, 

 daughter, and two sons, who in the poet's absence partook of the deadly species. 

 Among the great ones whose lives were sacrificed to the same ignorance may 

 be mentioned Pope Clement VII., the Emperor Jovian, the Emperor Charles VI., 

 Berronill of Naples and the widow of Tsar Alexis. The death of the Emperor 

 Claudius is also assigned to this cause, but the reason and manner of the 

 accident are not certain. 



In addition to poisoning from toadstools, it has long been known that 

 Ergot (Claviceps pur pur ea} is injurious to man and lower animals. In recent 

 years Ergotism has not been so serious as formerly. 



Other fungi also may be responsible for the death of animals by poisoning. 

 The Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria}, a beautiful species, is common in many 

 parts of the United States. I have described it in detail in another part of this 

 work. In this connection I shall quote freely from the detailed and excellent 

 account of poisoning as given by Prof. V. K. Chesnut, and the excellent report 

 given, of A. phalloides by Prof. Ford, who has written the most recent account 

 of poisoning from this fungus. 



The symptoms and treatment are thus described by Mr. V. K. Chesnut: 



"The symptoms of poisoning from the fly amanita, as deduced from a 

 number of cases, are varied. In some instances they begin only after several 

 hours, but usually in from one-half to one or two hours. Vomiting and 

 diarrhoea almost always occur, with a pronounced flow of saliva, suppression 

 of the urine, and various cerebral phenomena beginning with giddiness, loss 

 of confidence in one's ability to make ordinary movements, and derangement 

 of vision. This is succeeded by stupor, cold sweats, and a very marked weaken- 

 ing of the heart's action. In case of rapid recovery the stupor is short and 

 usually marked with mild delirium. In fatal cases the stupor continues from 

 one to three days and death at last ensues from the gradual weakening and 

 final stoppage of the heart's action. 



"The treatment for poisoning by Amanita muscaria consists primarily in 

 removing the unabsorbed portion of the amanita from the alimentary canal and 

 in counteracting the effect of muscarin on the heart. The action of this organ 

 should be fortified at once by the subcutaneous injection, by a physician, of 

 atropin in doses of from one one-hundredth to one-fiftieth of a grain. As a 

 stimulant emetic, mustard is particularly valuable. If this is not effective 

 apomorphin should be administered by a physician. In case of profound stupor, 

 however, even this may not produce the desired action. Tannin is of little 



l Science N. S. 30: 97. 98. 



