Introduction 



heroically until the -$ of a grain is administered, or until, in the phy- 

 sician's opinion, a proper quantity has been injected. Where the vic- 

 tim is critically ill the -jV of a grain may be administered. 



In every case of toadstool poisoning, the physician must be guided 

 by the symptoms exhibited. Professor W. S. Carter, by numerous 

 exhaustive trials upon animals, has proved that atropine, while valuable 

 as against the first, is not an antidote for the late effects of the greater 

 toadstool poisons. (See his chapter on toadstool poisons, especially 

 prepared for this work.) 



There are other species which contain minor poisons producing very 

 undesirable effects. These are soon remedied by taking an emetic, 

 then one or two doses of whisky and sweet oil; or vinegar may be 

 substituted for the whisky. A few species of fungi are innocuous to 

 the majority of persons and harmful to a few. So it is with many 

 common foods strawberries, apples, tomatoes, celery, even potatoes. 

 The beginner at toadstool eating usually expects commendation for 

 bravery, and fearfully watches for hours the coming of something 

 dreadful. Indigestion from any other cause is always laid to the tradi- 

 tionary enemy, fright ensues, a physician is called, the scare spreads, 

 and a pestilential story of " Severe Poisoning by Toadstools," gets into 

 the newspapers. The writer has traced many such publications to im- 

 prudences in eating, with which toadstools had nothing to do. 



The authoritative analysis of several common food species by La- 

 fayette B. Mendel, of Sheffield Laboratory of Physiological Chemistry, 

 Yale University, is given, and will correct the popular error about the 

 great nutritive value of fungi, arising from previous erroneous analyses. 



While species are reported as found in certain localities, it by no 

 means follows that their growth is confined to these places. A species 

 reported as found in the Adirondack mountains, unless belonging to the 

 few peculiar to northern regions and high altitudes, is reasonably sure 

 to be more plentiful in a like habitat south and west of them. South 

 it will appear earlier and its season last longer . 



Size is largely dependent upon latitude and may vary greatly in the 

 same group. Temperature, moisture, favorable nourishment are im- 

 portant factors in growth. 



Each species has its favorite habitat, and will thrive best upon it. 

 There are few things under the sun upon which fungi do not grow. 

 Their mission is particularly directed toward converting decaying mat- 



xii 



