Medical Botany. 571 



and many parts of Ada, is procured the gum tragacanth. The gum exude6 

 copiously through natural openings in the bark, to which it adheres and 

 concretes. It is used for various purposes in the arts, and in medicine as 

 a demulcent. — >Smilax Sarsaparilla ; Dice^cia Hexandria and ^sparagi- 

 neas. A climbing perennial, native to Mexico, Brazil, and Peru, whence 

 the dried root is imported. It is used in affections of the stomach, rheuma- 

 tism, scrofula, &c. 



No. XL II. for June, contains 

 163 to 165. — Amanita (a, intensive, mainomai, to madden ; intoxicat- 

 ing effects) muscaria (mused, a fly; killed by its infusion), Jgaricus mus- 

 carius Lin. " One of the largest and most beautiful of the agaric tribe ; 

 the pileus of a brilliant pink, with white warts ,* extremely conspicuous, 

 even at a distance, in the shaded recesses of its native woods." Found in 

 woods generally throughout Britain, and very abundant in those of the 

 Highlands of Scotland. There are two varieties, which, with the A. semi- 

 globatus, are generally considered poisonous. 



No. XLIII.for July, contains 



166 to 169. — Jgaricus bulbosus. One of the common poisonous native 

 agarics, abounding in woods in the autumnal months. " Poisonous fungi 

 do not in general manifest their action till six or eight hours after they are 



eaten, and twelve or sixteen occasionally elapse Although the fungi have 



generally passed the stomach prior to the manifestation of alarming symp- 

 toms, it will be right to excite vomiting as speedily as possible, by a solution 

 of sulphate of zinc or copper ; evacuations from the bowels should be im- 

 mediately produced by stimulating purgative clysters ; and as soon as the 

 stomach becomes settled, the intestines should be thoroughly emptied by 

 means of castor or croton oil ; perhaps a large dose of spirits of turpentine 

 would be better than either." 



. Amanita muscaria is used by the inhabitants of the north-eastern part of 

 Asia " in the same manner as ardent spirits, or wine, to promote intoxi- 

 cation. These fungi are collected in the hottest months, and hung up by a 

 string in the air to dry ; some dry of themselves on the ground, and are 

 said to be far more narcotic than those artificially preserved. Small deep- 

 coloured specimens, thickly covered with warts, are also said to be more 

 powerful than those of a larger size and paler colour. 



" The usual mode of taking this fungus, is to roll it up like a bolus, and 

 swallow it without chewing, which the Kamtschadales say would disorder 

 the stomach. It is sometimes eaten fresh in soups and sauces, and then 

 loses much of its intoxicating property. When steeped in the juice of the 

 berries of the 7 / accinium uliginosum, its effects are those of strong wine. 

 One large, or two small fungi, is a common dose to produce a pleasant 

 intoxication for a whole day, particularly if water be drank after it, which 

 augments the narcotic principle. The desired effect comes on, one or two 

 hours after taking the fungus. Giddiness and drunkenness result from the 

 fungus, in the same manner as from wine or spirits. Cheerful emotions of 

 the mind are first produced ; involuntary words and actions follow ; and, , 

 sometimes at least, an entire loss of consciousness. It renders some remark- 

 ably active, and proves highly stimulant to muscular exertion ; with too 

 large a dose, violent spasmodic effects are produced. 



" So very exciting to the nervous system, in some individuals, is this 

 fungus, that the effects are often very ludicrous. If a person under its 

 influence wishes to step over a straw, or small stick, he takes a stride or a 

 jump sufficient to clear the trunk of a tree ; a talkative person cannot keep 

 secrets or silence ; and one fond of music is perpetually singing. 



" The most singular effect of the Amanita is the influence it possesses 

 over the urine. It is said that, from time immemorial, the inhabitants have 

 known that the fungus imparts an intoxicating quality to that secretion, 



