296 STUDIES OF AMERICAN FUNGI. 



the plant harmless. Be this as it may, Amanita muscaria, so deadly 

 as ordinarily found, is undoubtedly used quite largely as food in parts 

 of France and Russia, and it has been eaten repeatedly in certain 

 localities in this country without harm. 



Fortunately muscarine has a very unpleasant taste. It is inter- 

 esting in this connection to note that the Amanita muscaria is said to 

 be used by the inhabitants of Northern Russia particularly the 

 Koraks as a means of inducing intoxication. To overcome the 

 extremely unpleasant taste of the plant they swallow pieces of the 

 dried cap without chewing them, or boil them in water and drink the 

 decoction with other substances which disguise the taste. 



The symptoms of poisoning with muscarine are not at once evi- 

 dent, as is the case with several of the less virulent poisons. They 

 usually appear in from one-half to two hours. For the symptoms in 

 detail we shall quote from Mr. V. K. Chestnut, Dept. of Agr., Wash, 

 ington (Circular No. 13, Div. of Bot.) : "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 

 derangements of vision. This is succeeded by stupor, cold sweats, 

 and a very marked weakening 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 two or three days, 

 and death at last ensues from the gradual weakening and final 

 stoppage of the heart's action." 



The treatment for poisoning by muscarine consists primarily in 

 removing the unabsorbed portion of the mushroom from the alimen- 

 tary canal and in counteracting the effect of muscarine on the heart. 

 The action of this organ should be fortified at once by the subcuta- 

 neous injection, by a physician, of atropine in doses of from one 

 one-hundredth to one-fiftieth of a grain. The strongest emetics, such 

 as sulphate of zinc or apomorphine, should be used, though in case of 

 profound stupor even these may not produce the desired action. 

 Freshly ignited charcoal or two grains of a one per cent, alkaline 

 solution of permanganate of potash may then be administered, in 

 order, in the case of the former substance, to absorb the poison, or, 

 in the case of the latter, to decompose it. This should be followed 

 by oils or oleaginous purgatives, and the intestines should be cleaned 

 and washed out with an enema of warm water and turpentine. 



Experiments on animals poisoned by Amanita muscaria and with 

 pure muscarine show very clearly that when the heart has nearly 

 ceased to beat it may be stimulated to strong action almost instantly 



