216 



states that there are a great many cases. A study of combined 

 statistics for all ages of victims and all varieties of Amanita of 

 this class shows a mortality of 52.6 per cent. This toll of death 

 strikes terror in our minds. There are only eight species be- 

 longing to this terrible class. They are Amanita phalloides, A. 

 solitaria, A. virosa, A. verna, A. citrina, A. mappa and Amani- 

 topsis volvata. 



Poisonijig. — There are probably two virulent poisons in mush- 

 rooms of this type. The first is phalline, which was the blood- 

 destroying principle which we mentioned in the poisoning by stale 

 Gyromitra esculenta. This poison is destroyed by heat and dis- 

 solved in salt and water. 



The second poison is best known by the name of Amanita- 

 toxin (Ford). It is most abundant in the cuticle of the mushroom 

 next in the gills and least in the flesh of the cap. // is not de- 

 stroyed by any method which leaves the mushroom in a condition 

 in luhich one would eat it. 



Symptoms. — There are no symptoms at all for eight to twelve 

 hours after ingestion of this class of mushrooms; during this time 

 absorption of the poison has been going on and the accumulated 

 effects usually break out suddenly and violently and, as often 

 happens, in the middle of the night or in the early morning. 

 Lightning is not more dangerous, nor fate more certain when 

 once the symptoms begin. 



If the Amanita has been eaten raw the symptoms are increased 

 by the disorganization of the blood due to the phalline. If the 

 mushroom was cooked the symptoms are like Asiatic cholera in 

 their severity and rapidity. From a sound sleep the sufferer 

 awakens with terrible abdominal pains — vomiting, and a con- 

 tinuous diarrhoea. So severe are these that the patient is soon 

 in a very sad state. The internal organs and the nervous system 

 especially are deprived of the water which has drained away in the 

 stools and delirium sets in. The heart and blood vessels contain 

 too little blood and heart failure begins. The kidneys and liver 

 refuse to act. Somnolence now intervenes at the end of forty- 

 eight hours and the patient becomes quieter. The pain and 

 diarrhoea cease, but it is only a false improvement. Exhaustion 



