EDIBLE FUNGI 151 



porus sidfureus ; but as 1 remembered that inflammation 

 was one of the symptoms of fungus-poisoning, and I could 

 detect no indications of this in my case, I soon dismissed 

 the rising fear, did not send for the doctor, nor take any 

 remedy. Others, who had partaken of the fungus more 

 freely than myself were not at all affected ; and I presume 

 my sickness was no more induced by the Polyporus than 

 by the bread and butter I had eaten. And yet, had I 

 alone partaken of the dish, or had one or two others been 

 affected in like manner, doubtless the night attack would 

 have been very confidently attributed by some to the 

 mushroom ; or had this been my first trial of that article, 

 possibly I might ever after have regarded it with suspi- 

 cion. I learned a few days afterwards from one of our 

 physicians, that this kind of sickness was then somewhat 

 prevalent in the community, and could be attributed to 

 no known cause. For the- credit of this species, therefore, 

 we were fortunately able to distinguish the post hoc from 

 the propter hoc. 



" There are families in America that for generations 

 have freely and annually eaten mushrooms, preserving a 

 habit brought from Europe by their ancestors. In no case 

 have I heard of an accident among them. I have known 

 no instance of mushroom-poisoning in this country, 

 except where the victims rashly ventured upon the ex- 

 periment wdthout knowing one species from another. 

 Among the families above mentioned, I have not met 



