Use of Mushrooms 



EDIBLE AND POISONOUS MUSHROOMS 



In the prfiL-diny pa.m-'S. 315 mushroiims are described. Of this number, only 

 three are deadlv poisdnous ; a lialf dozen are violenth- emetic in their efTect upon 

 -onie people, tliough harmless to others, and about the same number have such per- 

 sistently unpleasant odor or taste tliat thev "will be uni\'ersallv rejected, though none 

 of them are actually poisonous. ( )f the remainder, 230 species are edible ; 50 are too 

 tough or too small to be of real value, and 15 are still to be tested thoroughly, 

 though it IS probable that thev are all edible. The deadlv poisonous mushrooms 

 are all species of A m a n i t a : A. p h a 1 1 t) i d e s. A. v e r n a and ,\. m u s c a r i a 

 I figures 1. 2. 4). Kach species contains a somewhat different poison, though they 

 all act as powerful and fatal de]iressants uptm the heart action. Tlie chief antidotes 

 are atrojmic and injections of salt solution. The effects of Amanita poisoning usually 

 do nut appear for '.)-12 hours, and at this time remedial measures are too often un- 

 a\'ailing. In consequence, e\-erv one who collects mushrooms for food should spare no 

 pains to a\-oid getting A m a u i t a into his basket. This means ihat he must learn 

 to recognize A m a n i t a under all conditions, and tliat as a further safeguard, he 

 must learn the edible genera and species just as lie would learn so manv flowers 

 or fruits. Mushrooms with white gills, a ring about the stem and a volva at 

 the base of the stem must always be avoided, ^^'hen it shows these three fea- 

 tures, an A 111 a n i t a can readilv be distmguished from all other mushrooms. The 

 greatest danger occurs in tlie butlim stage, or in old age when tile \'oh'a or ring has 

 more or less completely disajipeared. ISutton Amanitas ha\-e l)een mistaken for laiff- 

 balls. witli fatal results, but this will never occur, if it is borne in mind that e\'en 

 the buttiiu as usually found will show gills when cut open, a feature cntireh' lacking 

 in tile puffball. Perhaps tlie safest jilan is to a\'oid all musliroom buttnns. unless 

 there is clear-cut e\'idence from their growth or the more mature plants alongside of 

 them that thev are not Amanitas. In other words, mushroom buttniis should e\'en 

 less be taken on faith than the adult forms. j\s to the old forms, the best method 

 is to become so familiar with the marks iif Amanita, as shown in figures 1-3 tliat 

 the\" will be recognized under all conditions, ^\l^ile the deadlv poisonous mushrooms 

 are few in species and in indi\"iduals. no chances whatever should be taken with 

 them. The opinion of one who does not know them definitely by their scientific 

 names is worse than worthless; it i^ dangerous. Tlie same statement applies to the 

 \arious rules-of-thumb for detecting jioisonous forms. These would all be laughable, 

 if tlicv did not often lead tn fatal results. The change of color of the flesh, the 

 floating or sinking in water, the discoloration of a sih'cr spoon and other supposed 

 tests are mere superstitions, unworthy of the slightest credence. E-\'en the best 

 cookbooks are often dangerously misleading. 



