INTRODUCTION TO CRTPTOGAMIC BOTANY. 255 



sufficient to account for accident. A curious case is reported 

 in the Gardener's Chronicle, which seems to show that an ex- 

 tremely minute quantity may sometimes induce grave symp- 

 toms. Ergot of Rye, which is a well-known remedy in cases 

 where active contraction of the muscles of the uterus is requisite, 

 is no less notorious for the fatal gangrene which it produces 

 when forming a immense proportion in rye used for flour, 

 though the children in some parts of the north of Europe 

 eat with impunity immense quantities of it under the name 

 of St. John's Bread. Some species of mould, when attacking 

 food, are scarcely less injurious, though whether the disease is 

 due to the mould itself, or to decomposition of the matrix 

 on which the mould is developed, has not been clearly 

 ascertained. 



252. A few species are used, as medicine.- Polyporus 

 officinalis was long a favourite drug, but it is now out of 

 repute. Exidia Auricula Judce owed its reputation in throat 

 cases, probably, to the fancied resemblance of its hymenial 

 surface to the fauces. The beneficial properties of Ergot have 

 already been mentioned. The fumes of the large Puffball, 

 Lycoperdon giganteum, have properties similar to those of 

 chloroform, and have been used to stupify bees, and even in 

 surgical operations. A species of Polyporus growing upon 

 the birch, and probably a state of P. igniarius or foinentarius, 

 or possibly P. nigricans, without specimens it is uncertain 

 which, is used when dried and pounded as an ingredient in 

 snuff, by the Ostyacks on the Obi. Agaricus muscarius, 

 when dry, is a well-known promoter of intoxication, and con- 

 stantly used for that purpose by Kamschatdales.* A decoc- 

 tion of it is used for the destruction of flies and other insects. 

 Dr. Badham has reported to me a case, in which some speci- 

 mens of A. muscarius, sent for that purpose to a friend, were 

 accidentally eaten, but, happily, a small portion only was con- 

 sumed, as they did not prove palatable, and the only couse- 



* It is curious that it eommunicates its narcotic qualities to the urine 

 off the persons who drink it, a circumstance of which the barbarous 

 people avail themselves to prolong their disgusting orgies. 



