EDIBLE NATIVE FUNGI. 155 



their cells are small and closely packed, and read}' to expand 

 when the moisture and heat are favorable. When the auspicious 

 moment arrives, the cells absorb abundant moisture and, 

 stimulated by heat, swell out to their full size. 



" Any vegetable productions which can increase so fast and are 

 so omnipresent are worth studying to find out their good and bad 

 qualities ; and it is probable that among the poisonous fungi, 

 there are many which are as valuable to the pharmacopana as 

 others are to the table." This statement, written more than 

 twenty years ago by the late R. Morris Copelaud, has been verified 

 bj^ the use of Muscarina. This remedy is an " active toxic 

 alkaloid of syrupy consistence, from Agaricus 7nvscarius, or 

 Amanita muscaria, or fly agaric, a poisonous mushroom, used in 

 Kamschatka as an intoxicant. The alkaloid is freely dissolved 

 out by water and dilute acetic acid." A full description of the 

 physiological effects can be found in Pattee's " Compend of Materia 

 Medica." The poisonous effects manifest themselves very soon 

 after eating, causing heat and a prickling sensation in the fauces 

 of the throat, with burning, and severe sickness at the stomach. 

 In light cases the sickness is relieved by vomiting before any seri- 

 ous injury is done, but at other times the victim is sick for many 

 days, and occasionally death ensues. In the intoxication produced 

 by the Amanita muscaria, ludicrous effects are produced ; a 

 talkative person cannot keep silence or secrets ; one fond of 

 music is perpetually singing, and if a person under its influence 

 wishes to step across a straw or small stick, he takes strides or 

 jumps sufficiently long and high to clear the trunk of a tree. 



The juice of Agaricus muscarius will kill flies ; the fumes of 

 dried puft'ball when burned will stupify bees and small animals ; 

 even the spores of Agaricus vellereus made one experimenter very 

 sick ; a few grains of Amanita verna will kill a dog. Rnssxila 

 emetica, as its name shows, is a violent emetic, and a larger dose 

 will kill. 



With so much that is dangerous, there is little real risk 

 attendant on the use of the varied forms of fungi, for they can be 

 easily classified, and are quite distinct in their appearance and 

 effects. There are simple rules which, carefully applied, greatly 

 reduce the chances of mistake, and simplify choice. Any fungus 

 which has a disagreeable smell should be avoided ; for, although 

 there are a few bad smelling ones that are good kinds, they are 

 very rare. 



