TOXINS FROM MUSHROOMS. 47 



alkaloids, and albuminoids. The study of the last 

 only, the albuminoids and diastases, interests us 

 here. The most important of these albuminoid 

 substances, phallin, was discovered in 1890 by 

 Robert. Pouchet also has isolated a whole series 

 of other toxic albuminoids, particularly from Ama- 

 nita muscaria (Fly Agaric). 



There are alimentary as well as toxic species in 

 every possible variety among mushrooms, some 

 species consisting chiefly of the edible kind, others 

 consisting of the poisonous variety. 



In consequence of the toxicity of mushrooms, 

 great attention must be given to the treatment to 

 which they are subjected when it is desired to 

 utilize them for alimentary purposes. Thus the 

 toxic principles of several varieties can be removed, 

 and the mushrooms rendered edible by very simple 

 means. 



Pouchet has made a very ingenious comparison 

 between the ethereal, alcoholic, saline, and aqueous 

 extracts of mushrooms, and bacterial cultures. The 

 analogy is striking as to the presence of toxin, 

 toxalbumose, and albumoses more or less toxic; 

 it is moreover not exaggerated, since, according to 

 the classification generally admitted, mushrooms 

 are nothing more than the very advanced represen- 

 tatives of a group the more simple members of 

 which constitute the bacteria. 



The same author has shown that phallin obtained 



