MUSHROOM. 3(jy 



says Pliny, can tell the true kind, however 

 curious they may be. The Roman naturalist 

 then proceeds to describe the safe kind, as 

 distinguished from the dangerous, with this 

 preface : " Although I dislike the indulgence 

 of such hazardous gluttony, yet will I endea- 

 vour to guard them against the poisonous 

 kind, which may be known by their mouldy 

 hue, their leaden and wan colour within, as 

 also by their edges being of a pale yellow. 

 The true mushrooms," he adds, " when they 

 first appear have a kind of thin skin, which 

 covers them as the yolk of an egg is covered 

 with the white, and these," he says, " are a 

 good food, but even these are safest when 

 stewed with animal food." 



The ancients used various antidotes against 

 the venom of mushrooms : some took leeks 

 to counteract the poison ; others recom- 

 mended the eating of pears or radishes, or 

 drinking perry, when they suspected danger- 

 ous mushrooms to have been eaten. Apol- 

 lodorus prescribed the juice or seed of cab- 

 bage to be taken. Nicander recommended 

 the seed of nettles ; others chewed rue, or 

 took mustard-seed. Lily roots, or myrtle 

 leaves, pounded and drunk in wine, were also 

 esteemed good in this case. 



VOL i. 2 b 



