PEEAMBLE. 21 



be SO modified by circumstances as to lose 

 or acquire poisonous properties, has not been 

 established. One of our most virulent 

 native species has undoubtedly been eaten 

 in Eussia with no disagreeable results, but 

 there is no evidence that the character of 

 the fungus had changed, whilst there is 

 every reason to believe that the process 

 of cooking adopted was calculated to produce 

 such results. It is very probable that the 

 poisonous principle existing in any fungus, 

 as it is grown, may be neutralized by the 

 use of acids or alkalies. Fungi of the 

 mushroom type grow rapidly, and rapidly 

 decay. Chemical change taking place so 

 readily, it is important that this class of 

 food should be cooked as speedily as 

 possible after it is gathered, before any 

 appreciable change takes place. It is by 

 no means certain that stale mushrooms are 

 innocuous, and, in some cases where mush- 

 rooms have been accused of producing 

 unpleasant efiects on delicate constitutions, 

 it is possible that the cause was not in 



