EFFECTS OF FUNGI. 75 



it (Agaricus muscarius) produces shivering, followed by 

 that kind of delirium which attends an ardent fever." 

 (Rees Cycl., Art. Mushr.) 



A careful examination of the diseased potatoes of the 

 British isles, from which that kingdom has of late suffered 

 so much, shows the uniform existence in them, of "the 

 fibres of a fungus calied botrytis, from its gr apelike form, 

 or of one called uredo tuberosum, which may be observed 

 ramifying round the cells which enclose the starchy cor- 

 puscules. Now these plants, however minute, are not self- 

 generated, but must be produced by some seminal impregna- 

 tion, transported by the atmosphere, and peculiarly adapted 

 to fructify upon the Sol. Tub. This vegetable distemper, 

 like that of the cholera, while general in its diffusion, is 

 determined to particular localities and plants, by predis- 

 posing causes; yet it is not always dependent on these, 

 having occurred in many regions where such causes did 

 not materially operate." (Ure.) "The effects of using 

 diseased potatoes, were in the first stage rigors, heat of 

 skin, quick pulse, and abdominal pain; in the second 

 stage, rose colored spots, migratory and evanescent, and 

 diarrhoea ; in the third stadium, a tumefaction of the mus- 

 cles of the neck, shoulders and arms, acute pain there, 

 and in the worst cases, erysipelas of the face and scalp, 

 and oedema of the eyelids." (O'Brien.) 



The effects of heavy single doses of ERGOT are, first, ano- 

 rexia, nausea, vomiting, dryness of the throat, and thirst; 

 secondly, abdominal pain and tumefaction, and diarrhoea ; 

 thirdly, weight and pain of head, giddiness, delirium, di- 

 lated pupil, somnolency, coma; fourthly, disturbed circula- 

 tion by increased fullness and frequency, or feebleness and 

 slowness of the pulse. Formication is a not infrequent 

 consequence, while protracted use creates, not only febrile 



