112 OCCASIONALLY FATAL. 



presence of this chemical in considerable quantities that 

 in parts of France and Russia Amanita muscaria is used 

 as food without harmful results. As ordinarily found in 

 this country, however, the fungus has proved again and 

 again to be deadly poisonous. 



The poison is moderately rapid in its action, the symp- 

 toms usually, though not always, beginning within two 

 hours after eating. The heart's action be- 

 comes slow and breathing is difficult. The 

 nerves are so affected as to produce giddiness, cold sweat, 

 and a deep stupor, which may last for hours or days. 

 There may be no abdominal pain, and after the stupor 

 has commenced the most powerful emetic often fails to 

 produce vomiting. The patient may linger for two or 

 three days before death ensues as a result of stoppage 

 of the heart's action. 



The following treatment is recommended by Chesnut: 

 "The treatment for the Fly Amanira poison consists 

 Treatment primarily in removing the undigested fungus 

 from the alimentary canal, and in counteract- 

 ing the effects of the muscarin upon the heart. The 

 action of this organ should be fortified at once by hypo- 

 dermic injections, by a physician, of some heart stimu- 

 lant, preferably atropin, in doses of from 1-100 to 1-50 

 of a grain. As a stimulant emetic, mustard is particularly 

 valuable. If this is not effective, apomorphin should be 

 administered hypodermically by a physician; tannin is 

 of little or no value in rendering the muscarin insoluble 

 in the stomach. If vomiting has not taken place, recently 

 burned charcoal may be administered for its mechanical 

 effect in absorbing the poison, or a couple of grains of 

 permanganate of potash in a 1 per cent alkaline solution 

 to decompose it. The use of this substance should be fol- 



