154 



effects of deadly species. This would be a great boon even at the 

 present time, and there will always be children and ignorant per- 

 sons to rescue from the results of their mistakes. Another very 

 interesting field, both theoretical and practical in its scope, is the 

 use of these poisons in minute quantities as medicines, as has 

 been done with so many of the substances extracted from poison- 

 ous species of flowering plants, and even from the rattlesnakes 

 and other animals. Thus far, only one of them, the alkaloid 

 muscarine, has been so used. 



"The poisons found in flowering plants belong chiefly to two 

 classes of substances, known as alkaloids and glucosides. The 

 former are rather stable and well known bases, such as aconitine 

 from aconite, atropine from belladonna, nicotine from tobacco, 

 and morphine from the poppy plant. Glucosides, on the other 

 hand, are sugar derivatives of complex, unstable, and often un- 

 known composition, such as the active poisons in digitalis, helle- 

 bore, wistaria, and several other plants. 



"The more important poisons of mushrooms also belong to 

 two similar classes, one represented by the alkaloid muscarine, 

 so evident in Amanita muscaria, and the other by the deadly 

 principle in Amanita phalloides, which is known mainly through 

 its effects. Besides these, there are various minor poisons, 

 usually manifesting themselves to the taste or smell, that cause 

 local irritation and more or less derangement of the system, 

 depending upon the health and peculiarities of the individual. 



"The principal species of poisonous fungi were illustrated by 

 colored lantern slides, the series containing Amanita cothurnata 

 Atk., Amanita muscaria L., Amanita phalloides Fries, Amanita 

 strobiliformis Vittad., Clitocyhe illudens Schw., Inocyhe infide Peck, 

 Paniis stypticus Fries, Russula emetica Fries, and several other 

 poisonous species of interest." 



Meeting adjourned. B. O. Dodge, Secretary. 



April 26, 191 1 

 The meeting of April 26, 191 1 , was held in the museum building 

 of the New York Botanical Garden at 3:30 p.m. Vice-president 

 Barnhart presided. Twelve persons were present. 



