43 



toms are persistently maintained, generally without loss of con- 

 sciousness, until death ensues, as it does in from two to four 

 days." "There is no known antidote by which the effects of 

 Phallin can be counteracted" (the blood corpuscles being quickly 

 dissolved, and the blood serum quickiy escaping from the blood 

 vessels into the alimentary canal). "The undigested material, if 

 not already vomited, should, however, be removed from the 

 stomach and intestines by methods similar to those given for 

 cases of poisoning by Amanita muscaria." 



Helve I lie acid. This deadly poison hss been extracted from a 

 plant known as Helvella esculenta, Pers., or Gyromitra esculenta, 

 Fr. There is no antidote known, and the action upon the blood 

 corpuscles with the accompanying symptoms are similar to those 

 of phallin poisoning. This poison has been found to be soluble 

 in hot water, so if the plants are first soaked in hot water, and this 

 thrown away, there is little danger in eating this fungus. As be- 

 fore remarked, fresh, young specimens seem to be free from this 

 poison, as Mr. Mcllvaine says he and his friends have eaten this 

 plant with impunity. 



It is a matter of interest that some of the fungi containing these 

 poisons, and which are very poisonous in our country, are not 

 dangerously so in others. The Amanita muscaria, containing the 

 poison "Muscarine," is said to be used by the peoples of northern 

 Russia to induce intoxication. It is likewise interesting that 

 these poisonous plants may be cooked when they have been 

 properly treated a dangerous experiment at best. It is known 

 that common salt is a solvent of phallin, and that vinegar is a re- 

 mover of the poisonous muscarine. Mr. Coville, in the article be- 

 fore quoted, tells us of a colored woman in the city of Washington 

 who prepared the deadly Amanita for the table, by scraping the 

 plant clean, removing gills and peeling cap, then boiling in salt 



PLATES. The Short-stemmed Boletus, Boletus granulatus. Slight- 

 ly reduced. No ring- is found on the short stem. The cap is a yellow- 

 ish mud color. Kqually g-ood with the last. 



