34 PASTORAL AND AGRICULTURAL BOTANY 



slightly viscid surface when fresh and slightly striate margin. The color 

 varies from red, or orange, to yellow and sprinkled with numerous whitish- 

 yellow flakes. The gills, or lamellae, are white, rather broad, reaching the 

 stalk or stipe and slightly decurrent upon it. The spores are white, sub- 

 globose to ellipsoid 9-10 X 7~8/i. The stipe is stuffed, or hollow 

 usually rough with scales and in color white, or pale yellow. The base 

 of the stipe is bulbous and the white, or yellowish volva breaks up early 

 so that it is rarely seen. The superior annulus is large, membranous, 

 white and persistent (Fig. n). 



Chemical Nature of Poison. The fly agaric was so called because 

 decoctions of it were used for killing flies. The active poisonous principle 

 of chief interest in this fungus is an alkaloid muscarin, although Kobert 

 finds two other alkaloids cholin and a third fungous atropin. Muscarin 

 (HON (CH 3 ) 3 CH 2 CH(OH) 2 ) is a substance with tobacco-like odor and an 

 extremely violent poison, .003 to .005 of a gram (.06 grain) being a very 

 dangerous dose for a man. The amount of this poison varies with soil 

 and climate. Cholin when oxidized is converted into muscarin, and if 

 it is subject to bacterial decomposition, it is changed to neurin an ex- 

 tremely poisonous base. Hence old, partially decomposed specimens of 

 fly agaric are more actively poisonous than fresh ones. 



Symptoms. V. K. Chestnut sums up the symptoms, as follows: 

 "Vomiting and diarrhoea always occur, with a pronounced flow of saliva, 

 suppression of the urine, and various cerebral phenomena beginning with 

 giddiness, loss of confidence in one's ability to make ordinary movements, 

 and derangements of vision. This is succeeded by stupor, cold sweats, and 

 a very marked weakening of the heart's action. In cases of rapid recovery, 

 the stupor is short and usually marked with mild delirium. In fatal cases, 

 the stupor continues from one to two or three days, and death at last 

 ensues from the gradual weakening and final stoppage of the heart's ac- 

 tion." 



Treatment. The preliminary treatment should be the administration 

 of an emetic, such, as sulphate of zinc, or tepid mustard water, and after- 

 wards the use of a strong purgative, so as to .remove all traces of the 

 offending substance. The hypodermic injection of atropin (^foo to 

 3^0 of a g ram ) should then be made, as it is an almost perfect physiological 

 antidote for muscarin (Fig. 12). Many lives have been saved by the use 

 of atropin. 



