112 OCCASIONALLY FATAL. 
presence of this chemical in considerable quantities that 
in parts of France and Russia Amanita muscaria is used 
as food without harmful results. As ordinarily found in 
this country, however, the fungus has proved again and 
again to be deadly poisonous. 
The poison is moderately rapid in its action, the symp- 
toms usually, though not always, beginning within two 
hours after eating. The heart’s action be- 
comes slow and breathing is difficult. The 
nerves are so affected as to produce giddiness, cold sweat, 
and a deep stupor, which may last for hours or days. 
There may be no. abdominal pain, and after the stupor 
has commenced the most powerful emetic often fails to 
produce vomiting. The patient may linger for two or 
three days before death ensues as a result of stoppage 
of the heart’s action. 
The following treatment is recommended by Chesnut: 
“The treatment for the Fly Amanita poison consists 
primarily in removing the undigested fungus 
from the alimentary canal, and in counteract- 
ing the effects of the muscarin upon the heart. The 
action of this organ should be fortified at once by hypo- 
dermic injections, by a physician, of some heart stimu- 
lant, preferably atropin, in doses of from 1-100 to 1-50 
of a grain. As a stimulant emetic, mustard is particularly 
valuable. If this is not effective, apomorphin should be 
administered hypodermically by a physician; tannin is 
of little ‘or no value in rendering the muscarin insoluble 
in the stomach. If vomiting has not taken place, recently 
burned charcoal may be administered for its mechanical 
effect in absorbing the poison, or a couple of grains of 
permanganate of potash in a 1 per cent alkaline solution 
to decompose it. The use of this substance should be fol- 
Symptoms 
Treatment 
