Fungi. 
Uses of the 
fungi. 
56 
zoophytes, have never been mitatentally invalidated, 
and we deem it an act of justice to state these claims. 
By the aid of chemistry, the composition of the fungi 
has in part been. ascertained. The existence of albu- 
men has been demonstrated, and in their ashes the phos- 
phoric salts seem to prevail. When burnt, they emit 
the odour of burnt animal matter, and ammonia is dis- 
engaged. When they decay, they emit a fetid cadave- 
rous scent, unlike the putrescent remains of any other 
tribe of vegetable. Hence it is that in the last stages. 
of their existence they are fed upon by those insects, 
which at other times resort to putrid carcases, These 
are points of resemblance which we consider as very re- 
markable. They lead us not to any positive. general 
conclusion, although well calculated to raise curiosity, 
and excite suspicion. But we have even more to say 
upon this subject. In form and appearance, the resem- 
blance between some of the zoophytes and the fungi is 
complete. Compare, for example, the figure of the 
** Mucor botrytes” of Sowerby, tab. 359, with the ‘* Co- 
rallina omnium minima, vesiculis nunc ramorum, nunc 
racematum, dense dispositis” of Ellis: Coral.tab. 13. no. 
22. B. So closely do they agree in form, that one draw- 
ing may serve for both, Who is there acquainted with 
both classes of beings, that does not perceive a resem- 
blance between the Pezize and the cup-shaped sponges, 
and the Boletiand Millepore ? But to conclude ; upon 
what claim is the genus Corallina admitted to rank as a 
zoophyte? Its calcareous substance causes it to approach 
the millepores, and upon this. ground it ranks with the. 
zoophytes. Why is a sponge placed in the animal king-: 
dom? It contains albumen, so do the fungi; when 
burnt it exhales an ammoniacal odour, so do the fungi. 
In short, the points of resemblance are so numerous, 
that the opinion of the animal nature of mushrooms, 
though not proven, is still plausible. Nature employs 
the zoophytes as the connecting link on the one side, 
and the fungi on the other, for the purpose of forming 
a union between the two kingdoms ; but it is impossi- 
ble for us to ascertain with accuracy, the precise point 
where animal life ends, and where vegetable life begins. 
There is probably no such point, both kingdoms being 
merely parts of one great whole. 
It now remains that we consider the uses to which 
the plants of this tribe have been applied, and the im- 
portant purposes which they serve in the economy of 
nature. : 
The Boletus igniarius of Withering has been highly 
recommended as a styptic, and various trials of its effi- 
cacy have been made, both in Britain and on the conti- 
nent. It is beaten out inte soft square pieces, and is well 
known to. surgeons by the name of Agaric, or ic of 
the oak, It has been much celebrated for stopping the 
bleeding of arteries in amputations and’ ‘wounds, But 
It has by no means proved so.successful as Brossard: and 
some of its admirers anticipated. 
An excellent touch-wood is made from the same 
fungus, in Germany, The upper rind is first pared off; 
it is then boiled in a solution of saltpetre, and after- 
wards dried and pounded with a hammer ; it: is then 
boiled a second time in the same solution, and, after 
being: dried, it is fit for use. 
But the same Boletus.is employed in, a still more ex- 
traordinary way in Franconia. ‘In that circle of Ger- 
many, as we are informed -by Gleditsch, the inhabitants 
beat this fungus. into square pieces, which resemble the 
softest leather, and sew them together in a curious. 
manner into garments. f 
FUNGL 
‘trembling of the nerves, intoxication, delirium mes 
The Agaricus muscarius has been appliedto as many | Ft 
useful pu aes as the touchwood Boletus. In ™ 
Kamtschatka, the inhabitants prepare a liquor from 
an infusion of this agaric, and the runners of the Epilo- 
bium angustifolium, which, taken in a small q 5 
exhilarates the spirits, but in a larger doze brings on 
lancholy, When mixed with milk, it kills flies, acs 
cording to Linnzus ; and the same author also tells us, 
that the expressed juice rubbed on walls and bedsteads, 
effectually expels bugs. ‘The same plant administered 
in dozes of from ten to thirty. grains in vinegar, is pre« 
scribed by Swediaur in cases of epilepsy and palsy, 
subsequent to the drying up of eruptions. It is also 
recommended to be sprinkled in powder on bad ulcers 
and gangrenes, ‘ vifuay 
There is a species. of Boletus termed by Linneus 
suaveolens, which, as that author informs us, the Laps 
Jand beaux carry in their pouches by way of perfume, - 
and to render their persons agreeable to their mistresses. 
It is strange that among so simple a people, such a 
recommendation should be found necessary, and it is- 
equally surprising that a mushroom in a lover's pouch 
pa f secure: success. ewer 
Mr Sowerby, in his. Preface to the British Fungi, af+ 
ter stating the uses to. which this. tribe of plants: has 
been ied, has the following observations: “ The 
Lycoperdons afford, in their ripe state, different browns, 
very copiously, in a fine im le powder, fit for im~ 
mediate drawing, when mixed with a little oe arae 
bic water. _I intend, when I figure some of the Lyco~ 
rdons, to use their own powder to represent itself.” 
This pledge he has redeemed in the case of the Leuco- 
gala argentia, tab. 272. the lowermost figure of that 
plate being coloured with the pewder of the plant it~ 
self, " d gs reads 
The fumes of the Lycoperdon proteus, when: burnt, 
have a narcotic quality, and hence they are sometimes 
employed to produce stupor in bees, in order to obtain 
the honey without destroying the hive. tes 
These are a few of the uses to which this tribe of 
plants has been applied. Some of. them may excite a 
sneer, while others will voke a smile.. The time 
may come when the fungi shall hold a more conspicu- 
ous place among the useful vegetables than they now 
occupy. Not above half a dozen of species have 
et been chemically examined. Yet these analyses have 
eoagil to light several important facts, and even furs 
nished us with two new vegetable principles. The his- 
tory of the one may throw some light upon their res 
spective merits as articles of human food, while the 
other appears to. furnish the chemist with a new instra< 
ment of analysis. : : : 
been employed as articles of 
Mushrooms: have Io! 
human food, and as the basis of several sauces. In 
are made use of, 
this country, a very few species onl 
but on the continent very many kinds are employ~ 
ed, By the Russians in icular, few are rejected. 
Even the most acrid and suspicious. of the whole. 
tribe, as the Agaricus piperatus, is eaten in great quan- 
tity. Nay, so fond inp shay of this mushroom, whieh» 
in. this. country is deemed poisonous, that they fill 
large vessels with it in the autumn.season, or pickle it 
with salt, and reserve it for winter food. The kinds 
which are held in the highest estimation are, however, 
few innumber. The truffle seems to hold a most con- 
spicuous place in the estimation of the epicure. It is 
found from two inches to. two feet under the surface. 
It is chiefly found in a light sandy soil, although it also 
