378 NATURAL HISTORY. 



Toad-stools have n.o particular odor or taste ; neverthe- 

 less they are very dangerous, and their poisonous effect is 

 immediately apparent. In an hour or two after being 

 eaten, the throat swells, breathing becomes difficult, cold 

 sweats, faintings, convulsions, spasms, sometimes dilirium ; 

 in short, there is a general disturbance of the whole sys- 

 tem, and in twelve to forty-eight hours, death ends the 

 suffering. A post-mortem examination shows inflamma- 

 tion of the stomach and an extravasation of blood on the 

 brain. In poisonings from this species of Agarics, an 

 emetic ought to be administered as promptly as possible ; 

 lukewarm water, in which melted butter, or sweet oil, is 

 mixed is also proper. If attended with much pain, mucil- 

 aginous drinks flaxseed tea, etc., and warm milk should 

 be given freely, and cataplasms applied to the stomach. 

 There are other symptoms, requiring other remedies, 

 which come immediately under the care of a physician, 

 by whom they can only be safely administered. The 

 treatment in all cases of poisoning from vegetables is 

 nearly the same. Some persons use this toad-stool, 

 boiled in milk, to kill flies ; it is, however, a dangerous 

 practice. Nevertheless, the Kamschatdales prepare an 

 exciting liquor from it, with which they intoxicate them- 

 selves to a certain degree. G. 



Puff-ball (Phallus impudicus), plate 31, fig. 2. A 

 mushroom, about a span long, and as thick as a thumb ; 

 overgrown with a green, slimy substance. Grows in 

 shady forests, mostly hidden in thickets : its presence, 

 however, can be detected, even from a distance, by its 

 disgusting odor. The ball explodes with a noise resem- 

 bling a pistol shot. Many of the 3Iusca> tribe seek it. 

 and deposit their eggs upon its surface. It is altogether 



